Department of Public Works Secretary Ray N. Yumul said that the alleged disturbance of a latte stone site in Obyan occurred during ongoing Super Typhoon Sinlaku debris-clearing operations and is now under investigation.
Yumul said he was alerted after receiving inquiries regarding activity at the historic site.
“We had crews down in the area performing typhoon recovery and cleaning activities,” he said. “Basically, Parks & Rec staff were down there doing the cutting and piling. There was also a payloader that was utilized to help with the debris management.”
According to Yumul, reports and a circulating video appear to show that the payloader may have disturbed the latte stone site.
“So it’s under investigation right now,” he said. “I’ve asked for the daily activity report that is submitted by the teams that are out conducting the cleanup to be reviewed.”
He added that the Historic Preservation Office has been notified and asked to assess whether any damage or disturbance occurred at the site.
Yumul said Parks & Recreation crews are scheduled to return to the area to carefully clear debris near the latte stones and coordinate with HPO on any mitigation measures.
“Upon the recommendation of HPO, [we will] take appropriate action thereafter to ensure that the place is restored to what it needs to be pre-typhoon,” he said.
While emphasizing that the beach area itself was slated for debris removal, Yumul said crews were expected to avoid sensitive historical areas.
“The whole beach area, the debris is supposed to be cleared. We’re supposed to basically be mindful of these sensitive sites,” he said.
Yumul said Parks & Recreation staff told him they did not instruct the payloader operator to push debris toward the latte site, though the department is continuing to gather information from personnel involved.
Marianas Press also spoke with Parks & Recreation director Michael Cruz, who confirmed that it was his crew working in the area together with volunteers from the Saipan Mayor’s Office.
The social media post and video circulating online were made by Herman Tudela, who said he personally witnessed the activity at the site.
Tudela, who said he was a former HPO staff, said he visited the area on consecutive days and noticed heavy equipment operating near the latte stones on Friday.
Contradicting the characterization that the incident was unintentional, Tudela alleged that the machinery operator told him they were acting under government instructions to clear the area.
“I told him to stop,” Tudela said. “But he cannot stop as [he told me it’s] governor’s order.”
Tudela said the operator was aware the area was a latte site and noted there was signage present identifying it as such.
“There’s a latte stone there and there’s a sign there,” he said.
He alleged that debris was pushed toward the site and claimed cultural materials in the area had been displaced or destroyed.
“The site is gone,” Tudela said. “The lusong (stone mortars), the pounding stones, everything that was there on the latte is gone.”
Tudela also criticized what he described as the lack of clear preservation protocols during cleanup operations.
“I am ashamed that our agencies and our [Parks & Rec] would do such a thing to our heritage,” he said. “Each layer they stripped away, stripped away our identity.”
Asked what guidance he has given moving forward, Yumul said he instructed crews to exercise greater caution around historical and cultural locations during cleanup operations.
“So I basically inform the staff to be extra careful,” he said. “If they’re not sure if an area is sensitive in this regards, then by all means don’t do any activity, don’t do any kind of work in the area and wait for guidance from appropriate officials such as HPO.”
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