The Commonwealth Casino Commission (CCC) is poised to advance with revocation proceedings against Imperial Pacific International (CNMI) LLC, pending Senate confirmation of Thomas A. Manglona’s nomination.
According to a Saipan Tribune report, during a recent board meeting, CCC chair Edward DeLeon Guerrero emphasized that once Manglona is confirmed, the commission will have the quorum necessary to deliberate on revoking IPI’s exclusive casino license.
DeLeon Guerrero expressed skepticism regarding the recovery of debts owed by IPI, stating, “I’m not very hopeful in terms of recovering [IPI’s debt]. Nevertheless, we’re still in the proceedings to revoke. We don’t need to go back and re-hear it. It’s already done. It is just a matter of…deliberating.”
He added that the CCC must first request the U.S. District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands to lift the stay on revocation proceedings, a requirement that also necessitates a quorum.
The stay was imposed automatically after IPI filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy earlier this year. However, following IPI’s decision to sell the hotel-casino, the CCC has resumed efforts to revoke its exclusive casino license.
DeLeon Guerrero noted that while the commission has five seats, a quorum of three commissioners is sufficient for the revocation hearing. Currently, the CCC lacks quorum as DeLeon Guerrero has recused himself from the proceedings.
