Supreme Court warns Pangelinan of contempt over repeated filings

The CNMI Supreme Court has issued a final warning to John Sablan Pangelinan to stop submitting repetitive court filings and contacting the Clerk of Court in violation of an earlier order, saying further violations could result in contempt proceedings.

In an order issued Tuesday, Oct. 20, Associate Justice Roberto C. Naraja said Pangelinan had attempted to submit 22 documents on nine separate occasions since being declared a vexatious litigant on June 25, 2026.

The designation requires Pangelinan to obtain permission from the chief justice or an authorized designee before filing documents with the court.

Naraja said Pangelinan continued attempting to submit motions containing arguments previously rejected by the court, despite orders issued Aug. 21 and Sept. 8 denying permission for similar filings.

“There will not be another warning and future violations of the prefiling order will likely lead to appropriate proceedings for contempt of court,” Naraja wrote.

Under CNMI law, criminal contempt of court carries a possible penalty of up to six months in jail, a fine of up to $100, or both.

The latest order also addressed emails Pangelinan sent to the Supreme Court clerk seeking acceptance of his filings without the required authorization.

Naraja said the clerk has no authority to accept filings from a litigant subject to a prefiling order without approval from the chief justice or an authorized designee.

The justice also rejected Pangelinan's arguments challenging the filing restrictions, including his assertion that he could seek reconsideration of rejected filings without first obtaining permission.

Naraja said even motions for reconsideration remain subject to the prefiling requirement.

The disputed filings involved arguments concerning the standing of Secundina Untalan Pangelinan and Selina Marie Pangelinan, the appellees in the case, and the Northern Marianas descent status of the late Jose Wilson Pangelinan.

The court made clear that further attempts to submit similar arguments would be rejected without another order.

“No more repetitious and frivolous arguments are to be requested to be filed in this case,” Naraja wrote.

He also directed Pangelinan to stop sending arguments to the Supreme Court clerk, warning that further emails seeking to circumvent the filing restrictions would be treated as knowing violations of the order.

The ruling does not impose a contempt sanction but warns that further violations will likely lead to contempt proceedings.

The case is Secundina Untalan Pangelinan and Selina Marie Pangelinan v. John Sablan Pangelinan, Supreme Court Case No. 2022-SCC-0016-CIV.