SENATE President Paul A. Manglona yesterday said he will ask acting Chief Justice Alex Castro to preside over the impeachment trial of Gov. Benigno R. Fitial.
In a telephone interview, Manglona, Ind.-Rota said he wants the proceedings conducted in a manner that will assure a fair trial.
“We want somebody who knows the procedure well and since I am not a lawyer we want the acting chief justice to preside. That is the plan,†Manglona said.
House Resolution 17-111, the articles of impeachment, is now with a House special committee which will start reviewing it on Thursday.
Fitial will be impeached if 14 of the 20 House members vote to adopt H.R. 17-111 which, as of Friday, was backed by 13 representatives.
Manglona said once the resolution is adopted, “we want to make sure that both sides â€" the prosecutor, which is the House, and the defendant, who is the governor, will be given a fair trial.â€
The Senate president said he will immediately write Castro a letter once the impeachment resolution is transmitted to the House. In case the acting chief justice declines, the Senate will ask Castro to recommend a judge. The other associate justice, John A. Manglona, is the Senate president’s brother.
If six of the nine senators find Fitial guilty, the governor will be removed from office.
The Senate president said he wants the public to have confidence in the impeachment proceedings.
For the last several months, Manglona and Fitial have clashed over a number of issues especially the legalization of casino on Saipan.
Fitial at one point called the six senators of Tinian and Rota “stupid.â€
Castro has been the acting chief justice due to Fitial’s failure to appoint a new one â€" and this is included in the articles of impeachment.
Meanwhile, other House members who are not on the special committee said they, too, want to attend its meetings.
Rep. Ralph S. Demapan, Covenant-Saipan, said he will join other members of the community in the House gallery.
He said he wants to listen to the discussions because he wants to be well-informed about the articles of impeachment.
“I will attend the special committee meeting as an observer,†said Demapan who is in favor of impeaching the governor.
Rep. Ray N. Yumul, R-Saipan, said he also wants to witness the discussion of the articles of impeachment which he co-sponsored.
He recalled that in other committee meetings, some matters were discussed but were not included in the committee report.
Yumul said he will take down notes while in the gallery.
“I want to make sure I understand both sides of the debate,†he added.
Fitial said the allegations of felony, corruption and neglect of duty against him are “frivolous.â€