NOW that an internal GPD investigation has begun into the involvement of one officer – and the possible involvement of two or more others – in the Blue House Lounge prostitution case, Gov. Eddie Calvo and Police Chief Fred Bordallo must assure the media and the public that the investigation will be above board and transparent.

Already some cynics are saying they don’t expect much. GPD internal investigations are often kept under wraps. Once an issue has gone to Internal Affairs, it often disappears from public view and never re-emerges. That must not happen in this high-profile case.

The owner of the lounge, Song Ja Cha, has been tried, convicted and sentenced to life in prison for sex trafficking, coercion, enticement to travel in interstate or foreign commerce for purposes of prostitution, and transportation of a minor for purposes of prostitution. The woman brought young women to Guam from Chuuk State in the Federated States of Micronesia and held them hostage, taking away their passports and forcing them to engage in sex with customers of the bar. At her sentencing, the judge said Cha’s actions were “not far removed from slavery.”

All of this has been widely publicized, but the involvement of GPD Officer David Manila has been less clearly handled. During Ms. Cha’s trial, he admitted to having sex in a VIP room with one of the Blue House employees. He also testified that he told one of the employees of the Blue House Lounge that she could not leave until she had repaid her “debt” to the owner.

Following the trial, Chief Bordallo says he ordered Internal Affairs to “begin an investigation into Officer Manila for abetting prostitution and conduct unbecoming an officer of the law.” During the trial, Officer Manila had testified – in uniform – as a State’s witness. When the IA investigation was completed, the chief issued an unspecified adverse action against the officer. Apparently he was only lightly disciplined, did not lose his job, and as far as we know remains on the GPD force to this day.

Lt. Gov. Ray Tenorio, a former police officer himself, says he finds this outcome “disturbing.” “Equally disturbing,” he said last week in a letter to Chief Bordallo and Attorney General Lenny Rapadas, “are the allegations that other police officers may have engaged in conduct unbecoming [an officer], if not illegal.”

The chief has named Lt. Lawrence Quichocho to conduct a new investigation into these allegations, as well as the way the Officer Manila situation was handled. Two other officers have been named to assist Lt. Quichocho, who is a former head of the GPD Internal Affairs division. He will not be acting in that capacity during this investigation, but instead, according to reports, will be deputized as a special investigator. The Attorney General’s Office will also participate.

We urge all who will be involved in this special investigation to make their findings known quickly and completely. The public has a right to know their police officers are not themselves above the law.