A heated budget debate in the Guam Legislature on Friday escalated into controversy after Republican Majority Budget Chairman Chris Dueñas ordered the Sergeant-at-Arms to remove Democratic Senator Therese Terlaje from the session floor. The incident has drawn sharp criticism from Democratic lawmakers, who accused Republican leadership of silencing dissent during deliberations on education funding.
In a statement, the Democratic Party of Guam called the attempted removal “undemocratic” and “deeply disrespectful,” arguing that budget deliberations require rigorous scrutiny and open dialogue. “Silencing dissent weakens democracy,” the statement read, urging Republican leaders to return to the table “in good faith.”
Chairman Dueñas defended his actions, citing repeated disruptions that he said undermined legislative order. “The Legislature cannot and will not allow disorder or chaos to overshadow the people’s work,” he said, noting that Speaker Frank Blas Jr. had also asked Terlaje to leave the chamber. Lawmakers recessed until 6 p.m. and then came back only to recess again.
Senator Terlaje, however, described the move as an “alarming display of power abuse.” She said she was removed simply for raising procedural questions about the use of excess funds for the Guam Department of Education budget. “If we cannot debate and defend our stance on issues like funding for education … then what does that do to the people who depend on us to represent them?” she asked, warning that such actions set a “dangerous precedent” for democracy on the island.