CLTC purge? Guam governor fires two land trust commissioners

By Mar-Vic Cagurangan

Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero has sacked two Chamorro Land Trust commissioners,

triggering speculation that a revamp is in the pipeline amid the body’s lukewarm response to the administration's proposals.

Jeffrey John Ibanez, who has been serving on the body for less than three months, confirmed that he received the governor’s dismissal letter on Monday but was baffled by his ouster.

Commissioner David Herrera was also dismissed from the board.

Jeffrey John Ibanez

“As you know, the commission’s continued effectiveness is contingent upon open collaboration between board members, stakeholder agencies and the community,” the governor said in a uniform letter dated “Jan. 24, 2024" sent separately to Ibanez and Hererra.

Smarting from the governor’s move, Ibanez asked: "Did I do anything wrong? I’m waiting to hear from the governor and to tell me why she’s removing me. What is it that she doesn’t want the public to know?”

Ibanez is an executive of the Bank of Guam, which is owned by the governor's family. He was among the four members of the five-seat CLTC board, chaired by Arlene P. Bordallo. The two other commissioners are David Herrera and Earl J. Garrido. One seat remains vacant. Joseph Cruz Jr. is the acting administrative director.

“Achieving the necessary synergy to maximize the commission’s impact, however, sometimes requires recruitment of members with fresh and innovative perspectives,” the governor’s letter reads.

“Upon reviewing the current makeup of the board with the aim to enhance the board’s effectiveness in light of its present needs, I have made the decision to dismiss you from the board effective immediately.”

Communications Director Krystal Paco-San Agustin said the letter explained the governor's decision to dismiss Ibanez and Herrera. "Anything outside of what was stated in the letter is just speculation. New appointees are forthcoming," she said.

CLTC commissioners, like other appointees to Cabinet positions, serve at the pleasure of the governor.

The commissioner neither confirmed nor denied he received the same letter.

“I have no idea. That is old news and the SOP with all the boards and commissioners are dispensable,” Herrera said in a text message when reached for comment. "It is best that you call or visit the origin of the source, the governor."

Ibanez’s dismissal came on the heels of the CLTC's skepticism over the governor’s plan to return the Ypao Point property to the Perez family. The commission has asked Attorney General Douglas Moylan to review the governor's proposal.

Another emerging contention is the governor's nomination of Roy Gamboa as CLTC director.

During the Jan. 16 meeting, the CLTC tabled action on Gamboa's nomination, noting that the position was not previously advertised.

Ibanez has proposed that the position be opened “to qualified individuals in the interest of fairness and transparency."

"She hired me for my expertise," he said. "I am just being transparent."

The governor's communications office has yet to reply to the Pacific Island Times’ request for comment.

Ibanez, whose appointment was confirmed last October after being stalled for more than a year, said he was surprised by the governor’s decision to dismiss him, noting that she fought the legislature to get him on board.

At the Bank of Guam, Ibanez was recently promoted from vice president/compliance officer V to vice president/Compliance Operations manager and Community Reinvestment Act officer. I

Last year, the governor traded barbs with then-speaker Therese Terlaje over the delayed confirmation hearing for Ibanez.

“This is not how democracy is supposed to work. I call on the speaker to put his nomination to a vote. That is the democratic way. The fact that she would treat any nominee with this level of disrespect and ill-regard says more about her than it does about him,” the governor said in a statement on June 29, 2024.

On the same day, Terlaje responded: “It is quite unusual for any governor and makes me wonder why this governor gets involved in the legislative process to push this one nominee employed with the Bank of Guam at this time when particular commercial leases are being considered.”

This article has been updated to include a statement from the governor's office.

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