Editor’s note: The following letter is a direct response to our editorial of Friday, April 20, “True and correct.” We are happy to offer the same space to Sen. Rory Respicio.
THANK you for allowing me to submit this response to your editorial, which mocks my continued effort to ensure that all information provided by public sector employees is truthful. Surely you must agree whenever we, acting in our official capacity as government employees, are telling the truth, then Bill 447-31 will NOT prevent us from interacting with the media. Our media releases will stick to the facts and make all of us accountable.
I don’t understand why the Calvo administration, or anyone else, should react negatively toward this legislative initiative, because if the individual is speaking the truth, then there is nothing to fear. If someone is attempting to distort the facts, however, a disconnect between the press release and reality will show, and allow for a statutory recourse under penalty of perjury.
In your editorial, you stated: “First of all, the bill calls that an ‘unsworn declaration’ but then says it is ‘being sworn,’ which is probably just an error;” but then wrote: “[T]hat’s our (the media’s) job, to find out whether our esteemed government officials are telling us the truth or just blowing smoke.”
Mr. Editor, you apparently didn’t attempt to at least try to figure out if I made an error, or if I was accurate and truthful. You missed an opportunity to “do your job” by checking the facts surrounding my media release. Your research would have discovered that the language for the unsworn declaration is taken word for word from Title 6 Guam Code Annotated §4308, which is adopted from U.S. Code.
At the bottom of all of my news releases from now on will be my “unsworn declaration,” and I will use it whether or not Bill 447-31 becomes law. I submit that being truthful and accurate is a goal to which journalists should strive, and I would hope that truth and accuracy would always be treated in a more serious manner. Your editorial reduces this issue to “grist for the comic mill and commentators who are always looking for something funny.” It’s no wonder that even though “it’s your job,” you appear to be the one that is ”just blowing smoke.”
I urge you to reconsider your position on Bill 447-31, because ensuring that our island’s government is telling the truth is no laughing matter.
Comments
Time needs to be spent on something good for Guam not useless laws.
Unenforceable, unconstitutiona l under the Freedom of Speech.
Senator, how about putting more time into the Epidural crisis?
Maybe not make a great case but certainly we will know they are willing to LIE inder oath whether they make the oath by themself. The point here is that they will be pre-warned of the consequence. This in itself will be a deterrent.
What people see with the bill is an attempt to legalize the picking apart of press releases or statements based upon semantics and personal views. In this sense you could accuse someone of breaking the law based upon differences in interpretation or opinion.
In other words - another way for the Legislature to attack the Governor (note I didn't say Calvo. I meant branch to branch, not party to party or personality to personality.)
What is needed is more governance, real legislation that addresses the bigger picture issues facing the government (like our debt), and cooperation between Adelup and Hessler St.
The bill appears childish to some. It also begs the question of whether or not it is constitutional or enforceable.
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