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Fitial appoints Igisomar as Commerce secretary
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Posted on Nov 10 2011
By Haidee V. Eugenio
Reporter
Reporter
Gov. Benigno R. Fitial nominated yesterday Sixto K. Igisomar as Department of Commerce secretary, over a year since Igisomar started holding the post in an acting capacity when Michael J. Ada stepped down.
Igisomar’s nomination requires the Senate’s advice and consent.
Senate President Paul Manglona (Ind-Rota), when asked for comment, said last night that he will refer the nomination to the Senate Committee on Executive Appointments and Government Investigations.
EAGI Committee chair Sen. Frank Cruz (R-Tinian), in a separate interview, said once the Senate president officially refers the nomination, his panel will schedule a public hearing and review the nomination before making a recommendation to the full Senate whether to confirm or reject the nomination.
Fitial, in his one-page letter to Manglona, said he and Lt. Gov. Eloy S. Inos “are confident that Mr. Igisomar is qualified to fulfill the vital responsibilities of this office and will be an asset to our administration.”
Capital Hill sources said the governor was not able to immediately submit Igisomar’s name to the Senate after Ada resigned last year over senators’ “concerns” with Igisomar.
But Cruz, when asked for comment, said he’s not aware of specific concerns about Igisomar, and would wait for the referral of the nomination to his committee.
Igisomar, the deputy secretary of Commerce and acting secretary of Commerce, is also the chair of the NMI Retirement Fund board of trustees.
