By Eric Rosario
Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero has spoken up for the first time since the incident involving police officers at Jerry’s Kitchen about the growing community concerns of police corruption.
“Corruption, in general, has no place in government or any organization that seeks the public's trust,” the governor said. “After the investigation is complete and the legal processes have been satisfied, if corruption is substantiated, appropriate action will be taken.”
The crash of a red Jeep into Jerry’s Kitchen two weeks ago caused growing anger among residents after the office of public safety oversight chairman, Sen. Jose “Pedo” Terlaje, lied that the senator’s granddaughter, Guam Police Officer Joneen Terlaje, was not involved in the crash. Public outcry grew daily from GPD’s silence on the issue, becoming louder with each trickle of information revealing no one was held accountable for the crash.
Joneen Terlaje is the daughter of former Judiciary deputy Marshal Joey Terlaje, who has been revealed by an FBI special agent in federal court as the subject of a police corruption investigation.
At the time this information was publicly revealed, Joey Terlaje was the deputy director of the Department of Corrections. He was appointed to that position by the governor in January 2019.
The Governor demanded Joey Terlaje’s resignation from her cabinet, and within days of the FBI testimony, he resigned.
The Governor‘s Office meanwhile is asking for patience from the community as authorities investigate.
“As we understand it, this is a pending investigation,” governor’s communications director Krystal Paco-San Agustin said. “For the sake the integrity of the process, which has a direct impact on any potential criminal charges, we have no comment.”
