By Troy Torres and Vickilyn Manglona Teregeyo
Another set of election-year receipts has surfaced showing the former governor’s government-issued credit card was used to make disallowed purchases, this time for $4,114.80 in tools and supplies at Ace Hardware.
The rules governing the use of the government-issued credit cards, known as the travel card or P-card, do not allow for the purchase of tools or tool supplies.
A 2:54 p.m., July 29, 2022 merchant credit card sales receipt indicates Ralph Torres made a $4,114.80 purchase at Ace Hardware using his P-card, which taxpayers pay for. The accompanying itemized receipt indicates Mr. Torres purchased 20 items from the Saipan store that Friday.
Seven days after the purchase, Mr. Torres and his running mate at the time, Vinnie Sablan, filed their candidacy petitions to the Commonwealth Election Commission.
The items included:
- 3 bush cutters totaling $1,979.97 in purchases
- 1 pressure washer for $985.99
- 1 chainsaw for $369.99
- 1 gas blower for $279.99
- 1 tent for $207.99
- 1 drill for $98.99
- 2 gas canisters totaling $63.98
- 1 tool set for $30.99
- 1 tool box for $26.99
- And various supplies
Governor’s office officials will verify Monday whether the government has these items in its inventory.
This would not be Mr. Torres’ first spending spree on hardware items that he charged to the Commonwealth government. Throughout his tenure, according to evidence that led to his impeachment in early 2022, he used non-government credit cards to make what appeared to be personal purchases of hardware in both Saipan and Guam, then had the CNMI government reimburse him for those costs.
Mr. Torres’ supporters in the CNMI Senate, controlled by republicans at the time, managed to thwart an effort to remove him from office following a lengthy legislative investigation by Celina Roberto Babauta that preceded impeachment proceedings and impeachment by the House. Among the articles of impeachment were that Mr. Torres stole money from the Commonwealth’s people by using 26 separate credit cards to make personal purchases for which he had the CNMI government reimburse him tens of thousands of dollars.
The list of cards with their suffixes follows:
1. 7438
2. 8223
3. 1001 – AMEX Fleet card
4. 1002 – Amex Fleet Card
5. 6500
6. 438857
7. 1232
8. 3987 – VISA
9. 6177
10. 2868
11. 2945
12. 1009
13. 5826
14. 5526
15. 1214
16. 7016
17. 6503
18. 6836
19. 434309
20. 3673 – 9/13/18
21. 2003 – AMEX
22. 2679
23. 4109
24. 438857
25. 6368
26. 7174
27. 2917
28. 9031
A Kandit source of information provided Kandit new documents indicating Mr. Torres was at it again. This time during the election season. This time using a government-issued credit card.
According to the Department of Finance’s Travel Card (P-Card) Program Guide rules and regulations, P-cards can only be used for certain purchases, including:
A. Airline Ticket
B. Hotel Stays
C. Parking Fees
D. Per Diem
E. Business Meals
F. Gasoline for Rental Vehicles
G. Stipend
H. Subsistence Allowance
I. Car Rentals
J. Excess Baggage Fee
K. Conference Fees
L. Taxis, or Rideshares
M. Railroad tickets
N. Bus tickets
There is no allowable use for tools purchases, not to mention the guide’s continuous mention of prohibition against personal expenses.
“Only eligible direct Government business may be charged to the Travel Card; personal purchases are prohibited,” the guide states. “All Travel Card transactions must be supported by a detailed business purpose and by proof of purchase documentation.”
Part III of the policy states P-card holders must submit documentation about who benefitted from the purchase, what the public purpose and benefit was from the purchase, why the purchase had to be an expense of the government, where the public purpose event or activity took place, and when the event or activity occurred.
None of those details appear in any CNMI Department of Finance documentation for this purchase, according to Finance records.
4 Comments
Joe
04/30/2024 at 8:15 AM
It’s sad that you provided space to report this ugly and malicious doing from an entrusted person and the authorities failed to act on it. More power to Rafet.
They call me Joe
05/10/2024 at 11:45 PM
Rafet is not alone in using taxpayer funds to allegedly make purchases for “dual purpose” goals (i.e., spreading the taxpayer largesse, and or then alledgedly benefitting from spreading said taxpayer wealth either directly or indirectly).
Just take some time out to review Kilili’s office in Washington quarterly expenditures that are required to be listed (by law) under ‘Statement of Disbursements” on the Houses website for public access? Plenty of credit card charges that makes the Rafet legacy look like child’s play (in my opinion). Airlines, cabs, restaurants, hotels, phone bills, misc. expenditures, local real estate rentals, office expenses, staff expenses, this and that, and this and that, list is long, too long for this comment…….(but ALL legitimate I’m sure). Plenty of “local” beneficiaries received “so called” legitimate “Congressional expenditures” by Kilili and his so called “office” that represents “The People” (LOL). And Kilili, just who are those people that benefitted from your time in office? Are in they in the CNMI (could have fooled me looking at the current state of the island).
By the way, how about any of those Kilili “bottled water” donations to ‘Max Aguon” (aka; the volunteer trash collector)? Who really paid for that? You think Kilili did? Nope, mainland taxpayers did (charged by Congressional credit card to local hardware stores, and paid for by U.S. taxpayers). And by the way – maybe ask Kilili to provide a record of his Congressional travels over the years that were never reported in the local media? I seem to remember some foreign trips by Congressional members (Belgium comes to mind for some reason for Kilili – is that correct?) What’s it all about Kilili and how did that benefit the CNMI? Maybe Kilili should tell the CNMI which private group paid for that trip? It seems (in my opinion) that the “one arm bandit” (Senator Inouye) from Hawaii taught Kilili well on how the game is played back when he apprenticed under him? (my opinion). Will you by any chance be passing that knowledge on to your endorsed CNMI boonie dog legislator – Edwin Propst (aka; once upon a time a Sears & Roebuck tool salesperson in Honolulu)
Like I said, it will be interesting to see what knowledge I have of any past residents of Hawaii who now are living in the CNMI? (my memory is pretty good).
Truth bomb incoming from Hawaii?
P.S. – To CNMI Lawyer – not just Viva Las Vegas. Try Viva Hawaii too?
They call me Joe
05/11/2024 at 12:52 AM
A question for Kilili (the Delegate, and not the person). Can you clarify a few things? With all that you receive from your elected position in Washington (i.e., a high six figure salary, benefits, perks like free travel, retirement package, etc.) is it true that you were also collecting a CNMI retirement while acting as a Delegate in Washington ? Do I have the numbers wrong, but wasn’t your CNMI retirement draw something like 30K a year? (correct me if I’m mistaken, going off of memory). Or maybe you weren’t drawing anything? (I’m sure CNMI residents would like to know, and again apologies if I’m mistaken). And wasn’t your wife collecting a DFS pension, but – (once again, correct me if I’m wrong because I’m going off of memory, and not verified) – wasn’t your wife listed on a disclosure sheet as being PAID to “do your books” (accounting)? I’m not sure who was paying her (again, not verified, just going off of memory) – but wasn’t that on one of your federal disclosures? Maybe I’m mistaken (apologies in advance). Either way, any advice you can give me on how to manage MY MONEY would be appreciated or if you can hook me up with your friend “Pelosi the STOCK TRADER” (or maybe you can give me some insider tips on how to survive under this inflated dementia Joe Biden economy?) Regardless, any tips appreciated. Thanks Kilili – you the man!
P.S. – Any chance you need a limo driver after you leave Congress? Just asking for a friend.
They call me Joe
05/11/2024 at 1:19 AM
P.S. and P.S. (forgot to ask). Is Kilili the Delegate, or his wife ALSO collecting any Social Security retirement benefits? Let’s rack the accounting up – (disclaimer – speculation, not based on any held in hand documents or held in hand facts)
1. Delegate salary -$174,000 a year.
2. Washington D.C – ADDITIONAL living expenses while residing in Washington D.C – up to $34,000 a year?
3. CNMI retirement benefits? Enter amount here -?
4. Social Security benefits (either wife or husband)- Enter amount here – ?
5. DFS Retirement benefits (Kilili’s wife) – Enter amount here -?
6. Congressional authorized expense (someones wife doing the accounting, keeping the books?) – Enter amount here – ?
All of the above (speculation, opinion, supposition, possibly not factual) – because, you know – I have CNMI Lawyer archiving my comments (smh).