Santos resigns, Villagomez business as usual

Posted on Aug 18 2008

James A. Santos resigned yesterday as Commerce Secretary, while it was business-as-usual for Lt. Gov. Timothy P. Villagomez.

Press secretary Charles Reyes Jr. told Saipan Tribune that Santos voluntarily resigned yesterday, Monday.

“The reason is because of the situation—the federal indictment. I think he feels that he’s going to be a distraction on the administration,” Reyes said.

Gov. Benigno R. Fitial tapped Deputy Commerce Secretary Michael Ada as the new Commerce chief.

Villagomez reported to his office yesterday at 8am. He left at 11:30am, according to Lt. Governor’s legal counsel Teresa K. Kim.

Kim said Villagomez was set to attend a personal meeting at 1pm yesterday, then have an official meeting.

Villagomez, Santos, his wife Joaquina Villagomez Santos, and former Commonwealth Utilities Corp. executive director Anthony Guerrero were indicted on charges of allegedly conspiring to bilk CMMI and U.S. governments out of thousands of dollars through business deals involving needless chemical purchases for CUC.

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