Commotion at Senate session

A police officer talks with Fabian M. Indalecio and Sen. Paul A. Manglona (Ind-Saipan) as House of Representatives sergeant-at-arm Pedro Towai listens at the parking lot of the Senate yesterday morning. Also in the photo are other police officers who responded after Indalecio called the police to file a complaint against Hocog, who allegedly aggressively tried to approach him during the Senate session. Hocog said he only stood up and had no intention of hurting Indalecio, who called the senators a corrupted group. Inset, Senate sergeant-at-arm Juan Santos escorts Indalecio outside the Senate chamber, after he was cut from making his statement during a Senate session yesterday morning. (FERDIE DE LA TORRE)

A commotion occurred during the start of the Senate’s session yesterday morning after military veteran Fabian M. Indalecio, whose testimony at the session was cut for being “out of order,” called the Senate “a corrupted group,” angering Sen. Victor B. Hocog (R-Rota).

Several police officers arrived in the parking lot of the Senate after Indalecio called the police to file a complaint against Hocog. No one was arrested.

Hocog, in a later interview with Saipan Tribune, said he had no intention of assaulting Indalecio as he had just stood up. “I know that somebody probably must have paid him to come and deliver that statement,” the senator said.

Hocog said they always accept any public comments during the session, but Indalecio’s comments regarding the proposed Senate joint resolution to accept Gov. Ralph DLG Torres’ request for the State of the Commonwealth Address totally deviated from the resolution.

Hocog said Indalecio started reacting again on previous outdated issues that have already been closed.

“I’m very glad that the president of the Senate used his authority to stop him from deviating away from public comments,” he said.

The senator said they really did not hear the end of Indalecio’s idea regarding the joint resolution that the Senate had just passed.

“He’s got totally no respect for the chamber and to the body that is sitting—to have called them a corrupted body in general,” Hocog said.

At the podium, Indalecio said he was supposed to speak about Gov. Ralph DLG Torres’ request to the Legislature to call for a joint session to receive the governor’s State of the Commonwealth Address. Indalecio said the Senate is holding an emergency session after acquitting Torres.

Senate President Jude U. Hofschneider (R-Tinian) told Indalecio to stay within the context of the agenda. Indalecio responded that he was leading to it. Hofschneider told Indalecio that he was already veering off and that he was not arguing with him. The president said he was going to cut him off.

In his prepared statement, Indalecio said that yesterday’s emergency session is a concern. Hofschneider said it’s not an emergency session but a special session. He reminded Indalecio again to stay in the context of the agenda. Indalecio said he would do so. He said Hofschneider coming up with a memorandum about a joint resolution “seems off and disturbing.”

Indalecio talked about the succeeding memorandum issued by Hofschneider.

The president told Indalecio that he’s done with his comments and instructed the sergeant-at-arm to escort him to his seat. Indalecio continued talking.

“Believe me, I told you to stay within the context. You’re finished, Mr. Indalecio,” Hofschneider said.

Senate sergeant-at-arm Juan Santos then approached Indalecio at the podium to escort him outside the chamber, prompting Indalecio to exclaim, “What a corrupted group!”

Hocog then uttered a profanity, stood up, and tried to walk in the direction of Indalecio.

Sen. Karl R. King-Nabors (R-Tinian), assistant sergeant-at-arm Benjamin Terlaje, and Sen. Edith E. DeLeon Guerrero (D-Saipan) then held back Hocog.

At that point, Hocog was far from Indalecio because Santos had already escorted Indalecio outside the chamber.

Hocog then went inside the Senate president’s office.

As Santos was holding Indalecio to stop him from going back to the Senate chamber, the latter was shouting profanities and stating the Senate “is insulting the public.”

“What a shame group, corrupted senators!” Indalecio said.

Santos subsequently managed to escort Indalecio outside the building. Indalecio then called the police to complain of assault against Hocog.

Indalecio told one of the responding police officers he was shaking because he’s scared as Hocog tried to approach him.

Sen. Paul A. Manglona (Ind-Rota) also came out of the chamber and talked with the police officers.

As officers stated they would take his statements, Manglona was overheard saying that he never heard from the police about his previous complaint against Hocog.

Last Feb. 28, Manglona and Hocog engaged in a shouting match during the recess of a Senate special session intended to tackle the Impeachment Rules.