THE Tinian municipal treasury issued a total of $34,517.38 to Mayor Ramon M. Dela Cruz for his travels last year.
Robert H. Myers Jr., legal counsel of former Saipan and Northern Islands Municipal Council member Felipe Q. Atalig, said the mayors travel covered the period from January to December 2010 based on the documents provided to them through the Open Government Act.
Dela Cruz, in an email, clarified that he went on official trips and filed trip reports for his travels paid by the municipality.
œSome trip reports are under processing for liquidation. The observations of Mr. Myers and his client Mr. Atalig carry no weight, he said.
Dela Cruz said his office, like any other government office, accounts for its expenses and is subject to scrutiny œbut not by citizens like Mr. Atalig.
The mayor did not elaborate.
Abuse
According to Myers, the documents provided by the mayors office did not include travel vouchers or trip reports.
He said the documents indicated that the mayor made an advance of $17,650 under the guise of œmiscellaneous expense.
œIt is vital to see the travel vouchers and trip reports to ascertain whether the mayor pocketed the miscellaneous expense advances or whether he returned those advances that were never expended or that are not justified, he said.
Atalig said what the documents show, so far, is the abuse of public funds. œThis is something that we like to stop, he added.
Dela Cruz said during his official travels, he met and helped Tinian residents on Saipan and other locations.
He said he also met with members of the Tinian delegation.
œThese expenses are for the benefit of the municipality and residents of Tinian. Again, Mr. Myers agenda with a colleague in his law office is the motivation behind Mr. Ataligs aggressive use of the Open Government Act. The community needs only consider the source of the comments from Mr. Myers office, the mayor said.
Myers shares an office with attorney Ray Quichocho.
Checks
Myers noted that based on the documents provided to his client, there are thousands of dollars worth of car rentals, ground transportation and airfare given directly to Dela Cruz.
The documents showed 45 checks issued for œcar rental, miscellaneous, and per diem.
Theres one check issued for œhosting of officials and six checks for œreimbursement.
The amounts ranged from $200 to $2,500 for miscellaneous; $25 to $700 for per diem; and $70 to $700 for car rental.
Dela Cruz said he will œnot allow Felipe Atalig, a convicted person, and his attorney, to dictate what is best for the municipality and the office of the mayor. What they reckon and what they say mean nothing except to serve the interests of Mr. Ataligs relative operating behind his uncles coattails. We will address this matter in due time.
Myers questioned Dela Cruz and the municipal treasurer to provide the travel vouchers and trip reports for all official travels performed by the mayor from Jan. 1, 2010 to present.
œWho is Felipe Atalig to the people of Tinian? Dela Cruz questioned. œWhat interest does Robert Myers have in the municipality of Tinian? None.
The mayor added, œWho is the link in their office? The people of Tinian and those observing Mr. Ataligs unamusing harassment of the mayor know the agenda and motivation for this matter. Again, we will deal with that in the court of law and not within the mind of Felipe Atalig and his cohorts.
Article source: http://www.mvariety.com/2011012033647/local-news/tinian-mayor-spends-$34k-on-travel-per-diem.php
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