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Rios’ appointment as Commerce chief withdrawn
WCC director designated as acting Commerce secretary
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Posted on May 03 2023
Joseph S. Rios Jr. and Francisco D. Cabrera
Gov. Arnold I. Palacios has withdrawn his appointment of Joseph S. Rios Jr. as secretary of the Department of Commerce. Workers’ Compensation Commission director Francisco D. Cabrera has been designated as acting Commerce secretary “until further notice.”
Palacios informed Senate President Edith E. DeLeon Guerrero (D-Saipan) last Tuesday, April 25, that he is withdrawing “at this time” Rios’ appointment as Commerce chief. He said he will resubmit Rios re-appointment at a later date. There was no immediate reason cited for this move.
Palacios nominated Rios to fill the position of Commerce secretary last Jan. 30.
The Senate Executive Appointments and Government Investigations Committee was supposed to hold a confirmation hearing for Rios last March 28, but Rios, through special assistant for the administration Oscar M. Babauta, asked to postpone the hearing as he was taking care of a “pressing personal matter.”
Palacios designated Cabrera as acting Commerce secretary last Wednesday, April 26.
Lt. Gov. David M. Apatang, in his role as acting governor yesterday, said that Cabrera has a lot of experience as he has been with the government, specifically with the Workers’ Compensation Commission, for many years.
Cabrera has been the WCC director for the last 25 years. In the last 10 years, he has been the project director for the Department of Commerce’s “one-stop” processing center, which includes the licensing offices of Alcohol and Tobacco, Weights & Measures, Taxicabs, Banking, and Insurance, and the Registrar of Corporations.
When asked yesterday if he wants to serve as permanent Commerce secretary, Cabrera said that’s a big question and that the position is “pretty tough.”
“But I have to meet with the governor to that extent,” Cabrera said.
