Hocog will be next Senate president

Victor B. Hocog (Ind-Rota), the current vice president of the 18th Senate, will be the Senate president of the 19th Legislature after a caucus of incoming and current senators chose him to become the upper chamber’s next leader.

“I’m looking forward to working with the [incoming] leadership of the Senate composed of nine members as well as working with the executive and hopefully we get to find out the leadership of the House so we can meet in advance and move forward to focus on challenges before us,” said Hocog in a phone interview with Saipan Tribune yesterday.

Hocog won without challenges from any incoming or current senator.

“I guess members feel that they have confidence in me to lead the group in the right direction. That’s all I need in bonding one CNMI mentality rather than making boundaries among Saipan, Tinian, and Rota.”

Hocog is the most senior member among senators in the incoming 19th Senate. As per tradition, the Senate leadership also revolves around the three islands. The last two Senate presidents were senator-elect and Lt. Gov. Jude U. Hofschneider from Tinian and lieutenant governor-elect and Senate President Ralph DLG. Torres (R-Saipan) from Saipan.

Hocog said he looks forward to a good working relationship with the incoming administration of Gov. Eloy S. Inos and Torres.

“I also want to work closely with the governor and make sure to address the CNMI’s most compelling problems and ensure that we meet problems before us as expediently as possible.”

Aside from the Senate president, the incoming leadership of the upper house also chose Frank Borja (Ind-Tinian) as vice president, senator-elect Rep. Teresita Santos (R-Rota) as Senate secretary, and senator-elect Arnold Palacios of Saipan as floor leader and chairman of the Committee on Federal Relations and Independent Agencies.

Jude U. Hofshneider, meanwhile, will chair the committees on Rules and Procedure and Fiscal Affairs, while Sen. Frank Cruz (R-Tinian) will continue to chair the Committee on Executive Appointments & Government Investigations.

Senator-elect Steven K. Mesngon of Rota will chair the Committee on Judicial, Government, and Law, while Sen. Sixto Igisomar (R-Saipan) will chair the Committee on Public Utilities, Transportation, and Communications.

Senator-elect Justo Quitigua of Saipan will serve as chairman of the Committee on Education and Youth Affairs, while Borja and Santos will head the committees on Resources and Economic Development and Programs and Health and Welfare, respectively.

Asked what his main focus would be as he ascends the leadership of the Senate, Hocog said he wants Senate members to look into the problems besetting the Commonwealth Utilities Corp.

“I want us to focus on lowering the power rates and look at alternatives that we can do. If renewable energy is still difficult to attain in giving people a lower rate, then we should see if we could return to fossil fuel or heavy fuel oil.”

Hocog also said he would like the Senate to help CUC address stipulated orders and make sure retirees continue to receive 100 percent of their pension.

This will be Hocog’s first term in the Senate. Prior to that, the Rota lawmaker served in the House of Representatives for three terms.