The Leon Guerrero-Tenorio administration said Wednesday there was just cause for the absence of Department of Parks and Recreation leadership at a budget hearing that the legislature's finance committee recessed in protest the previous day.
Committee Chairman Sen. Christopher Dueñas recessed the Fiscal Year 2027 hearing Tuesday, declining to proceed with questions about the department's 2024 audit findings and expressing frustration that the committee received no advance notice about the absence of an appointed or acting director.
Adelup said DPR Acting Deputy Director Warren Pelletier was unable to attend because he has been on medical leave since May 21, and that at the time of the hearing he was receiving emergency medical care. The administration said Pelletier was injured doing physical cleanup work at Paseo following Super Typhoon Sinlaku. Park Police Chief Joey Terlaje has been named acting deputy director, and a permanent director has yet to be confirmed following the resignation of Director Angel Sablan, who left to run for senator.
The administration said Terlaje, along with other DPR leads, was present and ready to participate. "Senator Duenas simply did not want to proceed, was upset, and chose to postpone the hearing," Adelup said.
Five DPR employees appeared and identified themselves at the hearing: Recreational Administrator William Stinnett, Park Police Lt. Anthony Martinez, Park Police Superintendent Joey Terlaje, Parks Administrator John Glenn Taitague and Administrative Services Officer Melba Limo.
At the hearing, Dueñas said he would not require classified employees to answer for decisions made by appointed leadership. He also signaled he intended to question the department over a media release concerning legislature-marked equipment found at a park.
The committee said it is prepared to review the budget once the administration sends a qualified appointed official.