THE House Judiciary and Governmental Operations Committee on Monday heard testimony from Bureau of Motor Vehicles Director Juana Leon Guerrero regarding the private vehicle for which the governor bought a battery and was reimbursed for it.
Accompanied by her legal counsel, Anthony Aguon, Leon Guerrero answered questions pertaining to the transfer of ownership of a white 2004 Mazda MPV van from Gov. Ralph DLG Torres to Diosdado Miravalles on Jan. 28, 2019.
The governor bought the vehicle for $2,000 from Carla Naog Camacho on Jan. 10, 2019 and then transferred its ownership to Miravalles.
Prior to transferring the vehicle ownership to Miravalles, the governor “released” his ownership to Brian Romolor.
Leon Guerrero had to explain the process of “double transfer” of ownership from the governor, to Romolor, then, to Miravalles.
After the three-hour questioning of the BMV director, Rep. Edwin Propst concluded that the governor “gave away” a vehicle the governor bought for $2,000, but “charged the taxpayers” for its battery.
He said he remembered asking Special Assistant for Administration Mathilde “Keko” Rosario if she would reimburse herself for the battery of her car.
He said Rosario replied, “Why would I do that? It’s my own car. I’m not going to do that.”
And yet, Propst said, “the governor is able to give away a $2,000 personal vehicle, but bought a battery for his personal vehicle and got reimbursed for it two days later — for the battery that he just purchased.”
Propst said, “Some people may ask, ‘So what’s the big deal? It’s only $122.10 battery.’ I’m very confused. The governor was generous enough to give away a vehicle he bought for $2,000, but he charged the taxpayers for the $122.10 battery.”
He added, “If nothing happens from this and if this is OK, then, every single government employee should be able to get a new battery for their personal vehicle because they are using it for work. But I don’t what to stop there. Why stop at a battery? Why not brand new tires? Government employees are using them for work, too. If I did that, would everybody be okay with that? The answer is no. So if the governor is able to do this why cannot any of us? We cannot because we know that this is not permissible. Yet the governor once again went above the law.”
Rep. Tina Sablan said the governor’s request for reimbursements totaled $5,388.11, which, aside from the car battery, included various electronic devices, a $900 tab at Westin Resort on Guam, a Blue Label Scotch that was a gift, and numerous [hosting events].
She said the governor also requested reimbursement amounting to $2,332.62 for other expenses that included lunch at a local Japanese restaurant.
The House JGO is looking into what it says are questionable expenditures of the governor.
Bureau of Motor Vehicles Director Juana Leon Guerrero, center, appears before the House Judiciary and Governmental Operations Committee on Monday.
Photo by Emmanuel T. Erediano
