Hocog expects smooth work ahead

Lt. Gov. Victor B. Hocog expects the incoming 21st Legislature to work cooperatively with the Executive Branch. “Otherwise, if we don’t make things work, what’s the use of us being there?”

Hocog, who will be returning to the Senate after choosing to seek one of the two Senate seats on Rota that were at stake in last month’s elections, promises a smooth work flow with the Torres administration. “Definitely we are going to work closely with our counterparts in the Legislature and the administration,” he said.

“We’re going to try and execute the platform of the [CNMI Republican] Party. That’s why we ran under one party, one team. Otherwise, we ran under one party but after you win, everyone goes in a different direction. It doesn’t make sense running in the same party,” he added.

Hocog will be returning to the Legislature after he placed second behind former GOP lawmaker Teresita A. Santos as senators of the first senatorial district of Rota.

And, with a revolving door system for the Senate leadership and since it will be Rota’s turn for the Senate presidency, Hocog was chosen by the senators to return to the same post that he held in the 18th Legislature before becoming lieutenant governor.

Hocog assumed the CNMI’s second highest post after then-lieutenant governor Ralph DLG Torres became the governor following the death of former governor Eloy S. Inos in December 2015.

Torres himself won his first full four-year term with outgoing Senate President Arnold I. Palacios (R-Saipan) as his running mate. The GOP has also managed to retain the majority in the House of Representatives.

“We are highly expecting to have a smooth Legislature. It is just a matter of really sitting down with members of the Legislature and the [administration], and navigate what would be the priorities that would benefit our people,” said Hocog. “And then head in that direction so we can accelerate the immediate needs of our community and what our people are looking forward to.”

Sen. Jude U. Hofschneider (R-Tinian) is the incoming Senate vice president, with Sen. Justo S. Quitugua (R-Saipan) as floor leader, while Sen. Sixto K. Igisomar (R-Saipan) will be the legislative secretary.

Sens. Francisco M. Borja (R-Tinian) and Francisco Q. Cruz (R-Tinian) are the other members of the majority in the Senate that will also have three independents—Santos and Sen. Paul A. Manglona of Rota and Saipan’s Vinnie F. Sablan.

Rep. Blas Jonathan T. Attao (R-Saipan) was chosen to be the next House speaker with Rep. Lorenzo I. Deleon Guerrero (R-Saipan) as the vice speaker. Rep. John Paul P. Sablan (R-Saipan) is the floor leader.