There was lots of emotional testimony again during an oversight hearing on the proposed use of Eagles Field in Mangilao as the site for a new medical complex. Governor Lou Leon Guerrero has long identified that acreage as the home of the new Guam Memorial Hospital.

The land is expected to be turned over by the military, and the governor has said federal law does not allow it to be given back to original landowners. A crowd of them appeared today before the Legislative Committee on Lands, including Christopher Flores, whose father was one of the owners of the Eagles Field property.

He staked out their position in this exchange with oversight chair Speaker Therese Terlaje, saying, "The question for today's hearing is really, the governor is proposing that instead of the land being returned that we agree to a 99-year lease and that the hospital be situated there. And so my question to you is: What is your opinion on that? Okay, so if what you just stated prior to what the governor's intention is for that property, if what you just stated is true and you believe that in your heart then like my other primos here that just stated, and all the families here that you are then who we look up to to make that happen? To fight that? And so with that in mind, then i would be in support of whatever the action is to return the properties back to the original landowners."

Much applause ensued.

Flores continued, "But I will hold you to that, speaker, I will hold you to that." Terlaje replied, "Sir, I am going to support that because that is what the people of Guam have supported for decades. I am not changing my position." More clapping followed.

"Please be clear, and all of you, I cannot do that by myself, there's no single person on Guam who can do that by themselves. We need to work with the governor, we support her to demand return of those lands, not to demand anything else."

The governor met with original landowners yesterday to explain her position that the feds can only return the land to the local government. She also sent Speaker Terlaje a bill to establish a new process and funding source for a Land Trust Bank that would facilitate current fair value compensation for original landowners whose property was taken by the military.