Fitial accepts DLNR secretary’s resignation

Gov. Benigno R. Fitial accepted Dr. Ignacio “Ike” Dela Cruz’s resignation as Department of Lands and Natural Resources secretary and named yesterday one of the DLNR division directors as temporary replacement.

Fitial designated Joaquin B. Songsong as acting DLNR secretary, a post he has been holding almost every time Dela Cruz is off-island.

Songsong is the director of the Division of Land Registration and Survey.

But sources said Fitial may appoint former speaker and now Fish and Wildlife director Arnold I. Palacios to become DLNR secretary. Such appointment needs the advice and consent of the Senate.

Fitial allowed Palacios to travel to Hawaii for a fisheries conference, but stopped Dela Cruz from going on Tuesday, triggering the latter’s resignation.

“Based on the fact that the Hawaii trip was regarding fisheries matters, the governor felt that it was more appropriate for the DFW director to attend,” press secretary Angel Demapan said when asked for comment yesterday.

The governor, who went back to the Republican Party, earlier said Palacios would be a formidable delegate candidate for the Republicans in the 2012 elections.

Demapan said the governor has not named a replacement for Dela Cruz “this early.”

Dela Cruz, in a chance interview at his DLNR office yesterday afternoon, said it was not the first time that the governor blocked his off-island travel to attend an important conference.

He said he would have wanted to personally hand his resignation letter on Tuesday afternoon to Fitial but the governor was busy with other meetings.

As of 4:30pm Wednesday, Dela Cruz has yet to receive a call from the governor.

“I still consider myself a good friend of the governor. But it prohibits me from attending important meetings, I can’t agree to that. I am concerned about animals on the island,” he said.

Demapan, when asked whether the governor is disappointed with Dela Cruz, said “no.”

Dela Cruz said yesterday he wants to talk to the governor regarding his veterinary services.

When he was DLNR secretary, Dela Cruz was also serving as the CNMI state veterinarian, but was receiving a salary only as a department secretary. He was also one of only two “state” U.S. Department of Agriculture meat inspectors.

“It’s going to be hard for the CNMI, that’s why I want to talk to the governor if he still wants my service as a veterinarian,” said Dela Cruz.

The press secretary said this matter has not been discussed yet.

Dela Cruz, when he was DLNR secretary, was at the animal quarantine facility one day every other week to provide veterinary services.

He said the average number of animal clients he saw was 46 to 47, while the highest number was 63.

Most of the services are for animal vaccination, de-worming, and treatment of certain types of skin diseases like mange.

Dela Cruz said while the CNMI has one other veterinarian, Dr. Ed Tudor, the latter deals mostly with small animals unlike Dela Cruz who also deals with cattle and goats. He said Tudor, as a private veterinarian, cannot sign USDA state certification forms for entry or export of animals.

This means without a state veterinarian, anyone wanting to import a live animal such as pet cats and dogs or roosters won’t be able to do so until the CNMI has a “state veterinarian.”

Dela Cruz said he used to have an independent contract with the government as a veterinarian for $63,000 a year.