It’s a race against the clock for the Guam Power Authority to install power infrastructure to support the governor’s Mangilao medical complex. The utility agency has less than two years to spend more than $35 million in pandemic funds or they’ll have to pay out of pocket.  But the Consolidated Commission on Utilities is concerned about moving forward with the project due to a ‘threatening letter’ from the attorney general warning of criminal liability.

"Time is of the essence and that’s what we’re doing right now," said John Benavente, GPA's general manager. He told the CCU that preparations are already underway, noting, "We’re going to put out a design bid for the substation, then put out another bid for the transmission line and a third bid or provision to make sure that one of the things they order right away are all the materials." 

The agency has identified two acres where they plan to build an underground electrical substation, as Benavente pointed out, "This colored area here is the property that GHURA has bought already. This is where the substation will be."

But the CCU has their concerns. Commissioner Michael Limtiaco asked, "Is there any concern with not completing it on time and GPA being responsible for funding of the remainder of the project?" to which Benavente said, "That is a concern. However, we are going to do everything we can to make it go as far as possible."

CCU chairman Francis Santos also shared concerns with Guam attorney general Doug Moylan, detailing, "I’m just preparing ourselves for - I mean, his M.O. is clear. He made it known to even god that this project will not proceed."

He reveals the Guam Waterworks Authority was served a "threatening letter", saying, "The certifying officers are my good friend John Kim, the assistant CFO and Mr. Benevente. So can we expect that your good friend AG Moylan is going to serve Mr. Benavente, Mr. Kim and the assistant CFO with another threatening letter?:

"We can’t predict what the AG will do," replied Marianne Woloschuk, the CCU's legal counsel. "But if he does serve a letter, it won’t be the same as the one GWA got."

In response, AG Moylan tells KUAM News, “Whether certain CCU members consider a reminder by the people’s chief prosecutor of Guam law pertaining to certifying officers’ duty to the people to only issue lawful payments is a threat or not is debatable.  I would think they should thank us of reminding and warning them versus prosecuting public officials (certifying officers) for breaking the law.”

Meanwhile, Benevente calls the project an opportunity as GPA has already been working to address power quality issues in Mangilao, regardless of the hospital. "Our team was looking for land area and everything where we were going to install a substation because the Mangilao community is growing," he said.