<home> -- <press releases> -- <October 3 , 2003>

Bordallo To War Claims Review Commission:
Hold Public Hearings, Conduct Exhaustive Records Search, and Offer Concrete Recommendations

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – October 3, 2003 – Washington, D.C. – The five-member Guam War Claims Review Commission met for the first time this morning at the U.S. Department of the Interior building in Washington, D.C.  Before taking their oath of duty and tending to initial organizational work, they heard from Congresswoman Madeleine Z. Bordallo.

“The work that begins today is the start of a process that we hope will finally bring closure to the issue of war reparations.  The people of Guam view the issue of Guam war claims as a matter of grave injustice not as a matter of financial gain.  I am confident that you will understand what I mean if you give this work your best effort and your sincere empathy,” said Bordallo.

Bordallo asked the Review Commission to schedule field hearings in Guam so that the Commissioners could hear directly from those affected by the enemy occupation.  “I believe that public hearings in Guam and site visits to Manengon, Fena, Tinta, and other historic sites where Chamorros experienced atrocities would help in your understanding,” said Bordallo.

She also stressed the expectation and obligation of the Review Commission to make “concrete recommendations” for the President and the Congress.  “We need these recommendations in order to bring closure on this issue for the people of Guam.  You have your work cut out for you.  You have an enormous task but you also have the authority to accomplish this task.  You will have the cooperation of the Government of Guam and you will have the support of Congress in this endeavor.  I will help you clear any obstacles that may arise,” said Bordallo.

The Commissioners have already asked Bordallo for her assistance in facilitating access to historical documentation and records that are held in various depositories and libraries of the Federal Government, including those of the U.S. Navy, that speak to the war claims arising from the occupation.

Mr. Mauricio J. Tamargo, Chairman of the Foreign Claims Settlement Commission under the U.S. Department of Justice, was elected Chairman of the Review Commission this morning.  Former Speaker Antonio R. Unpingco of the Guam Legislature was elected the Vice-Chairman.  B.J. Cruz, former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Guam, Congressman Robert J. Lagomarsino (R-California, 1973-1992) and Mrs. Ruth G. Van Cleve, Director of the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Office of Insular Affairs under the Johnson Administration and Carter Administrations (1964-1969, 1977-1981), round out the Review Commission.

The Review Commission is charged with issuing a final report by July 10, 2004.  The Guam War Claims Review Commission Act (U.S. Public Law 107-333), authored and steered into passage by Congressman Robert A. Underwood during the 107 Congress last year, specifically charges the Review Commission to review the facts and circumstances surrounding the effectiveness of the Guam Meritorious Claims Act of 1945 in fairly compensating the people of Guam in comparison to other similarly affected Americans who suffered at the hand of the enemy forces in World War II.

“I have faith and confidence in this process.  My predecessors, Ben Blaz, and Robert Underwood worked very hard to get us to this point.  The day has now arrived for the people of Guam’s story to be heard and examined by those entrusted with the responsibility to address and identify those errors, misconceptions, oversights, and shortcomings in law that may have been previously made and experienced.  The Commissioners are distinguished, fair-minded and resourceful individuals who I know will approach this task with diligence and patience.  I look forward to their work and recommendations,” said Bordallo.

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[ Full Text of Congresswoman Bordallo's Statement
Before the Guam War Claims Review Commission ]

From Left to Right:  Commissioner Tony Unpingco, Commissioner Mauricio Tamargo,
Congresswoman Bordallo, Commissioner Ruth Van Cleve,
Commissioner Robert Lagomarsino, and Commissioner B.J. Cruz.

From Left to Right:  Commissioner Ruth Van Cleve, Commissioner Mauricio Tamargo,
Commissioner Robert Lagomarsino, Commissioner B.J. Cruz, and
Commissioner Tony Unpingco.

Contact: Neil Weare in Washington, D.C., at (202) 225-1188 or Joaquin Perez in Guam at (671) 477-4272.