Beware of Online Predators!

The U.S. State's Attorney's Office contacted me last week. They invited me to attend this seminar on on-line predators. These are the same predators who prey on innocent children.
That's me sitting under the "Exit" sign. I had a Karidat meeting at 11:30 a.m. that morning and was planning to leave the seminar in time to make it to the meeting. But, the seminar was too important and interesting that I ended up missing the Karidat meeting. (My sincere apologies to Bishop Camacho and the rest of the Karidat Board members.)

Let me tell you -- I'm sure what I learned was just the tip of the ice berg, but it was enough to make me think twice about blogging! Seriously, folks. The ease in which children can be manipulated (not to mention some adults) into doing things they otherwise wouldn't normally do is quite disturbing. One of the attendees, who is in law enforcement, exclaimed "I better go home and check my daughter's MySpace!"

I was curious when I looked around and didn't see any other lawmaker there, so I asked if any of my colleagues in the House and Senate had been invited to attend this very important seminar. Much to my surprise, not only was I told that I was the only lawmaker invited to this seminar, but that I was specifically invited as they knew I worked with kids a lot.

Anyway, I would like to invite all my colleagues on the Hill to include this issue on their radar screen and would like to share my information with them. I personally pledged that my office will work with the U.S. Attorney's Office to see what we could do here in the CNMI to educate our children and our entire community about on-line predators. I will also work with the appropriate government agencies and other private non-profit groups to raise awareness of this issue.
Seated, l-r: Len Rapadas, the U.S. State's Attorney for Guam and the CNMI, me, and Alicia Limtiaco, Guam's Attorney General. These folks put on quite an impressive seminar. I wished I'd attended the training that they gave the day before, too.

Congratulations New Firefighters!

7th Cycle Fire Academy Listing:

1. Firefighter Roy A. Ada

2. Firefighter Jocelyn A. Alvarez

3. Firefighter Julian P. Aquiningoc

4. Firefighter Fidel S. Atalig

5. Firefighter Heinz B. Cabrera

6. Firefighter Deverrick N. Camacho

7. Firefighter Juan R. Camacho

8. Firefighter Christopher C. Cruz

9. Firefighter Patrick I. George

10. Firefighter Alvin L. John

11. Firefighter Jesse M. Pangelinan

12. Firefighter Danny B. Quitugua

13. Firefighter Joaquin A. Reyes

14. Firefighter Justin I. Sablan

15. Firefighter Adam J. Safer

16. Firefighter Rudy B. Santos

17. Firefighter Norman L. Skilling


8th Cycle Fire Academy Listing:

1. Firefighter Clint A. Barcinas

2. Firefighter Leif P. Castro

3. Firefighter Joel O. Hocog

4. Firefighter Francisco O. Iginoef

5. Firefighter Shawn DLR. Kaipat

6. Firefighter John P. San Nicolas

7. Firefighter Ray J. Taitague

8. Firefighter Jelani S. Tilipao

Click here for the Tribune Article.

Judge Govendo & Jersey Rails

Over a year ago, I read a letter to the editor that Judge Ken Govendo wrote concerning his son's tragic death after his car plunged over the ravine at Sadog Tasi Road. I was compelled to do what I could to help him in his quest to get guard rails put up in that area before anymore lives were lost.

I asked Rep. Justo Quitugua, Chair of the Delegation's Fiscal Ways and Means, to help me identify funds for this project. With his help, we were able to identify $100,000 to build the Jersey rails that everyone sees today. But, boy, it wasn't easy.

One of the things that Judge Govendo complained about in his article was the fact that many people offered to help, but help was not forthcoming. I pledged that I would stick with the project from beginning to end and prod and prod unti the job got done. I thank the wonderful folks at DPW for their infinite patience as my office worked with them to help facilitate the project and to keep Judge Govendo from writing one of his famous unhappy letters. :) More importantly, however, was the need to build the Jersey rails before others lose their lives in that area.

Thank you to all who made it happen! I thank the Administration, Rep. Justo Quitugua, my colleagues in the 15th SNILD Delegation for voting on the funding, to Secretary Joe Demapan and his wonderful DPW staff, all the agencies involved, and last, but not least, to my wonderful staff Daisie Camacho, my chief of staff, and Dennis Cabrera, my administrative assistant, for their excellent work and follow through.

Click here for Judge Govendo's letter.

Appearance At The ACT Roundtable

There are 15 candidates running for the House of Representatives, Precinct #1, my Precinct.

A week ago last Wednesday, I was one of four Precinct #1 House of Representatives candidates who appeared at the roundtable discussions hosted by the Association of Commonwealth Teachers. Click here to read the Saipan Tribune article.

I am #3 on the Ballot. So please don't forget to vote for #3 on November 3! Thank you!

The Labor Trash Force Picked Up 440 lbs of Trash!

The Labor Trash Force marked the last "Austerity Friday" by picking up trash on Chalan Tun Tomas P. Sablan Road. Labor's adopted section of this Road begins from the Mobil Gas Station in Chalan Piao to the last Pavilion at San Antonio Beach. (About half of the cleanup participants aren't pictured in this photo). GREAT JOB LABOR TRASH FORCE!

The following article appeared in the Tribune last Wednesday.


Local
Wednesday, September 26, 2007


Labor collects two truckloads of trash in cleanup


By Ferdie de la Torre
Reporter
Department of Labor personnel and some family members collected two truckloads of garbage during a cleanup operation along Beach Road in Chalan Piao to San Antonio on Friday.

Twenty-eight Labor officials and staff members brought family members along and teamed up with the Beautify CNMI led by Rep. Cinta Kaipat in combing both sides of Chalan Tun Tomas P. Sablan for trash.

Labor Deputy Secretary Alfred A. Pangelinan told Saipan Tribune yesterday that majority of their employees volunteered their time to do the cleanup. Friday was the last austerity holiday for the government.

Pangelinan said they started near the Mobil Oil Station at 8am and reached the San Antonio Beach south of the Pacific Islands Club at 10am.

At the beach, they had a barbecue and had lunch together, the official said.

Pangelinan said that Labor personnel are overloaded with work, but most of the employees were determined to participate in the effort.

“It was a good day,” he added.

Pangelinan said Labor had adopted the place for regular cleanups and the turnout of participants this year was a lot better than last year.

“We want to send out [a message] to the community that we also want to put in our share [in beautifying the island]. We don't only take care of their applications but also help beautify,” he said.

Labor Secretary Gil M. San Nicolas failed to join because he had a meeting. His secretary, Maria Agulto, was there.

Most of the trash collected were soda and beer cans, towels, garments, shoes, and plastic materials.

Here's a link to the Tribune page.

Beautifying With The Department of Labor

Labor -- The Reward At The End of the Finish Line