Senator back from four-month cancer treatment

Sen. Luis Crisostimo (Ind-Saipan), back on island after a four-month treatment and recovery for throat cancer in California, said yesterday he is seeking re-election on Nov. 6 under Gov. Benigno R. Fitial’s Republican Party.

He said he is ready and able to continue his duties and responsibilities as a senator, even as he has yet to fully recover.

Crisostimo arrived on Saipan on Friday, four months since leaving in October to undergo radiation and chemotherapy for his throat cancer at the University of California at Los Angeles Medical Center.

“Being away is saddening for me,” Crisostimo said in an interview at his office after attending the joint session of the Senate and House of Representatives yesterday.

Crisostimo received a warm welcome from his colleagues at the joint session.

Senate President Paul Manglona (Ind-Rota) said “it’s good to have him back with us.”

“We continue to pray for his full recovery. We pray that he and his family can get back to their normal life and for him to return to his official duty as a senator. We missed our colleague,” Manglona said.

Crisostimo’s voice remains hoarse for now due to the treatment but he said it will go back to normal once he fully recovers.

“In the beginning, I couldn’t even speak,” he said, as he also shared how he had kept in touch with his office staff, colleagues, and constituents while in California. Even while off-island, he communicated his desires to have some of his bills and resolutions passed.

Crisostimo said his chemotherapy started in November, while radiation began in December.

The father of three thanked those who prayed for his and his family’s wellbeing during his treatment. During his four months off island, he’d also visit Las Vegas where he has a house. His wife May was with him the whole time.

The senator said being away helped him widen his perspective about the economy and governance. He said the CNMI should work toward self-reliance and financial independence from the United States. He also defended the Taiwan trip of six lawmakers, saying the CNMI should learn as much as it can from highly developed countries to develop its own industries such as agriculture and perhaps biotechnology.

Crisostimo said he hopes that someday the CNMI will become an independent nation, and not a Commonwealth of the United States.