SAIPAN Republican Eli D. Cabrera was sworn in as the new speaker of the 17th House of Representatives shortly after Froilan C. Tenorio stepped down from the top leadership post.
Cabrera, who served as then-Governor Tenorios special assistant for budget and management, was backed by the Covenant leadership.
The vote in Cabreras favor was 12 to 7.
Aside from Tenorio and Vice Speaker Felicidad T. Ogumoro, Covenant-Saipan those who voted for Cabrera were Ramon S. Basa, Covenant-Saipan, Edmund S. Villagomez, Covenant-Saipan, Raymond D. Palacios, Covenant-Saipan, Ralph S. Demapan, Covenant-Saipan, Sylvestre I. Iguel, Covenant-Saipan, Joseph M. Palacios, R-Saipan, Stanley T. Torres, Ind.-Saipan, Fredrick P. Deleon Guerrero, Ind.-Saipan, and House Floor Leader George N. Camacho, Ind.-Saipan.
The other seven voted in favor of House Minority Leader Diego T. Benavente, R-Saipan: Frank S. Dela Cruz, R-Saipan; Joseph P. Deleon Guerrero, R-Saipan; Antonio P. Sablan, Ramon A. Tebuteb, R-Saipan; Ray N. Yumul, R-Saipan; Trenton B. Conner, R-Tinian; and Teresita A. Santos, Ind.-Rota.
Benavente was on Guam, Variety learned.
Some officials of the Fitial administration attended the session to witness the vote which, according to Floor Leader Camacho, was chose by the leadership before the holiday season.
It was acting Gov. Eloy S. Inos who administered the oath of office to Cabrera with the new speakers sister, Lucy Cabrera Castro, Gov. Benigno R. Fitials executive secretary, standing beside her brother.
Prior to the election, Deleon Guerrero and Dela Cruz questioned Camachos motion to suspend the rules and nominate Cabrera to be the new speaker.
Deleon Guerrero and Dela Cruz said the motion was really two motions and were an attempt to œcircumvent anyone from nominating somebody else on the floor.
When Ogumoro defended the motion, Dela Cruz said: œDont run it down the peoples throat. He and the rest of the minority bloc members insisted that the two motions be acted on separately.
Tenorio agreed and Camacho withdrew his motion. Camacho then made a new motion to suspend the rules, which was approved.
He then made another motion, this time to nominate Cabrera as speaker.
Deleon Guerrero nominated Benavente.
Camacho closed the nomination and a roll-call vote was taken.
After his election, Cabrera thanked his colleagues œfor giving me the opportunity to lead you for the remaining time of our term.
He added, œLet us now go on with the calendar of bills.
Relieved
Tenorio said he was relieved that that he had finally turned over the speakership to someone who œis going to do a better job than I did.
Tenorio said it was Gov. Benigno R. Fitial who questioned him to serve as speaker following the 2009 elections.
But Tenorio said he also wanted to spend time on his part-time job in the private sector so he told the House leadership that he would step down this February.
But last week, he said his son-in-law who lived in San Diego, California passed away, so he had to leave the island and miss the governors summit with lawmakers at the Saipan World Resort.
His son-in-laws death made him choose to step down straight away and not wait for another month.
œNow, the time has come when I just have to earn additional income. My son-in-law died in San Diego which is another reason I have to step down because I need to make additional income to support my daughter and four grandchildren. That is why I have to do it now, Tenorio said.
Sorry
Tenorio said he wanted to apologize to Benavente for holding a session without the minority leader.
Benavente is scheduled to be back on island today.
But the House could not hold a session today because its an austerity Friday.
Tenorio noted that there was no change in the House leadership which remains aligned with the Fitial administration.
Besides, he added, the governor is now Republican like the members of the minority bloc.
Cabrera said he remains opposed to legalizing casinos on Saipan.œLook at Tinian and Rota, tell me what benefit they are getting now from their casino, he said.
He admitted, but, that a casino bill, once again, will have enough votes to pass the House.
For the NMI
œI am still a Republican, Cabrera said. œBut right now, everybodys agenda regardless of party affiliation is reviving the economy.
He said he and the rest of the House members should be working for the commonwealth and not for any party.
He said even the governor has re-joined the Republican Party œfor the sake of the people.
Inos said he is confident that the administration will continue to work together with the Legislature, including the House minority bloc.
Ones political party, he said no longer matters.
œThe problem in the CNMI is everyones problem. So we are going to work together, said Inos who described Cabrera as a hard-working individual.
œWe have to go forward. We got a huge agenda. The people are waiting for excellent things to happen, Inos added.
Press Secretary Angel A. Demapan, for his part, said the administration has always been working with the Legislature regardless who the presiding officers are.
œWe have the mandate to deliver public service to the people. So the change in the House leadership does not necessarily reflect the change of our desire to continue working with the Legislature, said Demapan who also congratulated the new speaker.
œWe wish him the best as he starts this new endeavor. We hope to work in the direction that we have established in the summit last week, he added.
Ogumoro said œthe most vital thing right now is to do the work that needs to be done.
Senate President Paul A. Manglona, Ind.-Rota, expressed hope that the House can now work with the Senate.
As speaker, Tenorio clashed repeatedly with the Senate.
œThe leader changed, Manglona said, œbut the members are the same. What needs to change is the commitment of all the members of the House and Senate.
Article source: http://www.mvariety.com/2011011333441/local-news/tenorio-steps-down-cabrera-new-speaker.php
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