A former colleague of ex-Yona mayor Jesse Blas is asking the judge for leniency as Blas faces sentencing in district court for drugs-related charges.
Mayors Council of Guam executive director Angel Sablan, writing in his personal capacity as a friend of the former Yona mayor, said he has known Blas for many years and Blas has always shown him the utmost respect in all their interactions.
“I have never known him to be a man of unscrupulous ways. Moreover, he has never shown me that he is a man that I could not trust. Needless to say, his indictment was a total shock and disbelief!” Sablan said.
He added that as a personal friend, he was one of the first to publicly ask that Blas resign his position as mayor.
“I did this not because I believed he was guilty of the crimes he was charged with. I suggested for him to resign because | believed it was the decent and right thing to do. This would allow his constituents the opportunity to move on with finding leadership for his community since his detention would not allow him to offer that leadership,” Sablan said.
He added: “We all make mistakes and we must all pay for those mistakes. While I certainly believe that Jesse should face the consequences of his actions, I only ask for your forgiving heart in giving him an opportunity to prove to all of us that he has learned from this mistake. The price of ending what was a future of hope
and dedication to his community and the end of a career that was entrusted to him by the very people he let down is already a heavy punishment. While we all can say that he brought this upon himself, I will stand by him as my friend. We all need others to lift us up when we are down,” Sablan said.
In his letter to district court judge Frances Tydingco Gatewood, Sablan said he is asking for leniency for Blas’ sentencing not because he wants to diminish the gravity of his crime.
“I ask for leniency because Jesse owned up to his mistake and accepted that he did make a mistake. It takes a remorseful person to admit wrongdoing. I believe his time in detention has given him the opportunity to accept his mistake and to accept whatever punishment he may get,” Sablan said.
He added: “I only ask that his many years of service to our people not be nullified by an act he undoubtedly regrets today. He is still a decent person. He is still a good father. He is still a good friend. Thank you, your honor, for your consideration of my request. | write this letter on my own free will and desire.”
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