Some 242 acres of Chamorro Land Trust property, Lot 527-R1, in Malesso’ could become the future training site for the Guam National Guard.

Senator Shawn Gumataotao introduced Bill 182, which would transfer the land to the guard, who needs a place to train. 

He says it also opens opportunities for community use, to include local public safety and law enforcement agencies, with priority use given to the guard for their monthly weekend drills and annual training exercises. 

Gumataotao says in part, “Our National Guard has asked for help and this measure delivers on our commitment to supporting guard members – our mothers, fathers, brothers, and sisters in uniform to whom we owe a debt of gratitude for their service and sacrifice.”

The senator references Adjutant General Mike Cruz’s letter to the CLTC last November, in which the guard requested the transfer *or lease* of the lot for development. 

The site would support maneuver training, bivouac areas, and storage for non-sensitive training aids. 

Cruz stressed there would be no live fire ranges, and the guard committed to covering all development and environmental costs.

Some in Malesso’, however, have raised concerns about the proposal.

Village Mayor Franklin Champaco says he supports the military service members, but giving up land while many continue to wait for its return doesn’t sit well with him. 

“While I respect the Senator’s position in his proposed bill, I think it’s important to share that as the leader of Malesso’, I do not support using the land for such purposes. I would rather give it back to our people whether through the Land for the Landless or for the community to use,” said Champaco. 

It’s “highly concerning” for Darlene Leon Guerrero, who was born and raised in malesso.’ She shared that many in the village are against it. 

“The main concern is there are many families that have lost land, you know, going way back to hundreds of years ago, the colonization period. They’ve taken from many, away from people, the land, our heritage and our identity,” said Leon Guerrero. 

Leon Guerrero is a CHamoru teacher at Merizo Martyrs’ Memorial School, the campus that went into lockdown last Friday after school officials heard gunshots in the area.

As reported, it turned out to be USDA personnel conducting firearms qualification training more than 300 yards away on a private ranch in the mountains. 

She says the elementary school was not informed of the training, with many fearing there was a shooter nearby.

She says this underscores how often the community doesn't have a say.

“It was near Asan Bay near Inarajan, but we could hear it so clearly that I immediately thought, ‘are they seriously doing training without letting the people know?’ So I’m just against it. There are so many native residents that don’t have land and yet they’re going to take more away,” added Leon Guerrero. 

And despite the bill’s good intentions, the mayor wants to understand more in detail its ‘positive impacts’ for the community, saying it won’t affect just Malesso’ but neighboring villages of Inalahan, Humatak and Hagat.

“As the southernmost village, Malesso’ is home to a peaceful and family oriented way of life. We are all family here and we want to keep it that way. We hunt to feed our families, it's a perfect hiking spot. It’s our culture and way of life that we stand strong to preserve,” said Champaco. 

In a statement to KUAM, Guam National Guard Public Affairs Officer Mark Scott says, “We appreciate Sen. Gumataotao’s proactive efforts to help the Guam National Guard and other agencies with a much-needed training area. We are sons and daughters of Guam, and this is our home. Our intent in the guard is to keep local land in local hands, protect the environment, and create opportunities for the community. The concept is still a work in progress, and we will continue working with the senator and maintain transparency along the way.”

Meantime, the mayor says he will be meeting with the senator to set up a town hall meeting. 

KUAM News reached out to Gumataotao for comment and have not heard back as of news time. 

And while the CLTC declined to comment for now, commissioners are set to discuss the bill in their next meeting on Sept. 18.