Guam congressional delegate Madeleine Z. Bordallo is calling for an investigation into the recent spike in alcohol prices on the island’s military bases.

"Since hearing from the Guam Chamber of Commerce that no liquor products were purchased from local distributors while prices on resold liquor products continued to rise at military exchanges, I have requested that the Department of Defense Inspector General look into this matter," she said Wednesday in a statement released by her district office in Hagatna.

Bordallo declined to comment further.

The dispute stems from a provision in the 2008 defense appropriations bill that would have restricted the Army and Air Force Exchange Service and Navy Exchange from bringing alcohol to Guam via military transportation. On Sept. 1, the organizations raised prices in anticipation of buying alcohol through local vendors subject to substantial shipping charges.

Prices increased between 40 percent and 50 percent for some items, and a smaller selection was expected.

Lt. Donnell Evans, a U.S. Naval Base Guam spokesman, said prices were reduced about two weeks ago when officials learned that language in the appropriations provision had been changed and no longer required military installations to purchase from local distributors.

"The prices were adjusted on Sept. 1 because of the time required to change the inventory and accounting systems to reflect the higher cost of buying it locally," he said. "Language in the law has since changed. Now, they are not required to purchase alcohol locally. However, the NEX and AAFES do still purchase wine and spirits locally because of availability, and that’s common practice here."

Evans also said he had not seen Bordallo’s complaint and couldn’t comment on it.

An AAFES spokesman at the organization’s Pacific Region headquarters on Okinawa did not immediately return a message left Wednesday seeking comment.

Guam Chamber of Commerce Chairwoman of the Board Laura Dacanay also did not reply to a written query or telephone message.