Saturday, January 16, 2010

Chinese take out, column B

The hearing on Gov. Benigno R. Fitial's massage by a woman accused of human trafficking has been postponed at the request of Attorney General Edward Buckingham, according to the Saipan Tribune.

Maybe that should be alleged massage; the article refers to the "alleged unauthorized release". Buckingham has his work cut out. Both Fitial and Corrections Commissioner Dolores M. Aldan told the Tribune in a statement that they knew the "unusual situation" could be a problem.

Serious enough that Aldan is quoted as saying "I made about seven calls to the number I have for Deputy Hall and about six calls to the cell phone of the attorney general." That's something like putting up a Beware of Dog sign and letting the beast roam free.

The U.S. Attorney holds all of the cards (if not the prisoners). We don't know where the feds are going with this, and it is possible they could file charges.

While the move is understandable, personally, I'm disappointed that the hearing was postponed. The information vacuum is being filled by scurrilous speculation on the street and on the internet. Almost all of the comments on the Thursday and Friday Marianas Variety stories are negative.

Newly-hired press secretary Angel Demapan is probably disappointed too. While his first days have been "really tough", media frenzies usually have a short life, depending as they do on new developments. In this case, just about the time attentions lag, the hearing will guarantee more Front Page coverage.

Still, it could be worse. National news has been dominated by the earthquake in Haiti. And, while the Associated Press story appeared in hundreds of newspapers, most of them ran a short, somewhat sanitized version like this Washington Post blurb. I couldn't find it on Reuters and only on blogs related to Saipan.

Angelo posted the KSPN video on The Saipan Blog and YouTube. There's another version on YouTube.

4 comments:

Angelo Villagomez said...

I don't think the Attorney General should be representing him. He should be paying for his own attorney.

Anonymous said...

This is a titanic article as they all are. I bring into the world been wondering nearly this looking for some beat now. Its notable to get this info. You are reasonable and balanced.

bigsoxfan said...

Ha, Ha, I think you have been favorably compared to Fox news. Still, more than Wendy can say.

KAP said...

It reads like computer-generated spam-- like the ambulance-chasing post above it or some of my emails. I was expecting a link.

But I am rather proud of my limpidity.

(I'm trying not to be an ankle-biter, so I'm limiting my posts on the subject until more comes out. The Variety is sure all over it: The alleged loitering arrest Monday and today the employer doesn't know anything about payment.)