By Pacific Island Times News Staff
Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero has called into question the motive behind Sen. Therese Terlaje’s bill proposing a public-private partnership for Guam Memorial Hospital. At the same time, she sought an investigation into Attorney General Douglas Moylan’s hiring practices at his office.
Turning the tables on her two vocal critics, Leon Guerrero sent separate Freedom of Information Act requests to Terlaje and Moylan demanding transparency in their proposals and actions.
Both Terlaje and Moylan have been at odds with the governor over several issues, including her disbursements of federal pandemic grants and her plan to build a new hospital in Mangilao. Both have accused the governor of striking deals behind closed doors.
The FOIA request for Terlaje sought "any letters, emails, or communications with any private company or private individual regarding a public-private partnership with that she has proposed in a piece of legislation that she has introduced.”
"The people of Guam deserve to know if there have been any discussions or negotiations between Sen. Terlaje and any private entities regarding her proposed public-private partnership with GMH," the governor said.
She was referring to Terlaje’s Bill 13-38, which proposes to mandate GMH to partner with a private organization to manage its operations, finances and other key areas, including billing and collections, electronic health records system and Medicare among others.
"Transparency is essential to good governance, and the people of Guam deserve to know all the facts about this proposed public-private partnership,” the governor said.
Terlaje quickly responded, saying she had "no written communication and certainly no negotiations with any private company regarding any form of public-private partnership with GMH.”
She described the governor’s FOIA request as another attempt “to distract and question motives of everyone else but the governor while GMH deteriorates.”
The former speaker reminded the governor that a public-private partnership was recommended by the 2016 Guam Memorial Hospital Task Force.
She said the governor herself mentioned in her 2024 State of the Island address that she was “in active discussions with off-island experts” and there was a “need to partner with private healthcare experts” to address hospital operations.
“I agree with the governor that full transparency is needed when it comes to GMH and hospital issues, which is why I held the numerous oversights, info briefings and public hearings regarding GMH and the potential location of a new hospital,” Terlaje said.
“I look forward to full disclosure and less distractions by the executive branch moving forward," she added,
In Moylan's case, the governor’s office submitted a FOIA request to the Office of the Attorney General related to the hiring of his brother, Scott Moylan, and the promotion
of his fiancée Sheenalyn Hawkins as chief of staff.
“The AG needs to put his money where his mouth is, provide documentation for his questionable hiring and procurements, and give our people the answers they need to judge these transactions for themselves,” said Krystal Paco-San Agustin, director of communications.
Moylan reiterated his earlier argument that “hiring of family members or close friends is recognized in American politics.”
“The attorney general has publicly addressed allegations of impropriety regarding his hiring practices, but his excuses do not pass the smell test,” Paco-San Agustin said.
“The attorney general is not above the law. He should be investigated when his actions raise legal red flags. And if he is found to have committed a crime, he should be prosecuted and punished,” states a press release from the governor’s office.
Paco-San Agustin said Moylan, as a self-proclaimed “toughest law enforcer,” is expected to uphold “the highest ethical and professional standards, which are called into question by his office’s suspicious hiring practices.”
She said Moylan has diverted substantial resources to investigating and prosecuting “government corruption” cases, which have all been dismissed.
“As the chief executive officer of the government of Guam, charged with ensuring the enforcement of Guam law, Gov. Leon Guerrero cannot sit by while the attorney general engages in conduct that raises legitimate concerns he is violating the law,” Paco-San Agustin said.
In response, Moylan dismissed the governor's statement as an attempt to “simply distract the public from several serious legal issues that have brought this people's elected law enforcement law firm at odds with the governor on numerous civil and criminal investigations and issues affecting all our people's welfare, including the illegal use of ARP funds, the governor's inability to help the poor and homeless, as well as the overall deteriorating conditions in healthcare, education and public safety.”
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