Hocog is acting governor

Senate President Victor B. Hocog (R-Saipan) is back in familiar seat as acting governor, with both Gov. Ralph DLG Torres and Lt. Gov. Arnold I. Palacios off-island on official business.

Torres is headed to Palau at the invitation of Palau President Tommy Remengasau Jr. to attend the funeral of former Palau president Thomas Remengasau Sr.

Palacios, on the other hand, has meetings at the U.S. Embassy in Japan to promote the CNMI as an “American destination for Japanese investments and tourism,” according to press secretary Kevin Bautista.

“[Yesterday, Palacios] met with U.S. Department of Commerce International Trade Administration officials and the Japan Association of Travel Agents to discuss further partnerships to increase Japanese tourism arrivals and investment, both of which remain key goals of this administration’s economic strategy to revitalize the Japan market’s presence,” Bautista said in a statement.

Palacios was also scheduled to meet with Japan-based airline Skymark Airlines Inc. officials “to reinforce the partnership between the Japanese carrier and the CNMI. Saipan is one of Skymark’s first international routes, and joint planning is being done to ensure their long-term viability within the Marianas,” Bautista told Saipan Tribune.

“…This administration looks forward to working with Skymark to make this goal a reality as they plan out their regular scheduled flights,” he said, adding that the airline is prioritized as a “key partner” to the Japanese market revitalization.

With Hocog temporarily at the helm of the CNMI Executive Branch, he appointed Sen. Jude Hofschneider (R-Tinian) yesterday as acting Senate president until Palacios’ return on Sunday, Aug. 25, 2019, when the lieutenant governor will take over the helm until Torres comes back.

The Senate yesterday resumed session, which was on recess since Wednesday afternoon after a closed-door bipartisan leadership discussion on the fiscal year 2020 budget.

The Senate ultimately passed the fiscal year 2020 budget with Hofschneider presiding the session in the stead of Hocog.
Hocog served as Torres’ lieutenant governor when the latter took over the unfinished term of former governor Eloy S. Inos, who died in office in 2015.