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Rios: I intend to move forward
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Posted on Apr 04 2023
Acting Department of Commerce secretary Joseph Santos Rios Jr. said yesterday that he is still wants to face the Senate Executive Appointments and Government Investigations Committee for his confirmation hearing.
“I am still here, so my intentions are moving forward,” said Rios in a text message in response to Saipan Tribune’s questions.
He said “if” he did resign it’s because for something that did not sit well with him, and “if” he did later reconsider or rescind his resignation, then it’s because there “may” have been a compromising solution or alternative.
“Whichever the case may be, I am still here,” said the acting Commerce secretary. He did not elaborate.
Senate EAGI Committee chair Sen. Celina R. Babauta (D-Saipan) said last night that they have not scheduled cthe onfirmation hearing for Rios and for other nominees.
“We are prioritizing the budget at this time,” said Babauta, referring to a legislation to revise the fiscal year 2023 budget upon the request of Gov. Arnold I. Palacios.
The EAGI committee’s confirmation hearing for Rios’ appointment did not push through last March 28, after Oscar M. Babauta, who is the special assistant for the Palacios-Apatang administration, told the committee that Rios had asked to postpone the hearing as he is taking care of a pressing personal matter.
Sources said Rios resigned as acting Commerce secretary just before his confirmation hearing, but then rescinded his resignation on or about the day of the hearing.
Sources said Rios informed his staff during a meeting last March 23 that he had submitted his resignation letter to Palacios and that his last day in office would be March 31. However, sources said, Rios met his staff again on March 29 and told them he is not resigning after all.
