Maratita to lead Rota delegation; chair of Tinian to be decided Friday

Rep. Glenn L. Maratita (R-Rota) will be the next chairman of the Rota Legislative Delegation when the group holds its organizational session next week.

Sen. Teresita A. Santos (R-Rota), who as a member of the House of Representatives was chair of the local delegation, said the four members of the group have unanimously agreed to elect Maratita to head the delegation.

She also said that Sen. Steve Mesngon (R-Rota) would serve as vice chairman, with Senate President Victor B. Hocog (Ind-Rota) becoming floor leader, while she will take on the role as legislative secretary.

Santos also clarified that the Rota Legislative Delegation organizational session will not be held this coming Monday.

“I will meet with members to find out when this organizational session will be held but it’s not this Monday. We need to all sit down so we can finalize the date of the organizational session,” she told Saipan Tribune in a phone interview.

Sen. Francisco Borja (Ind-Tinian), meanwhile, said that while the leadership of the local delegations of Saipan and Rota appear to be set, the Tinian and Aguiguan Legislative Delegation would only be electing its officers tomorrow.

He said the delegation’s organizational session would start at 2pm in his office at the Jesus P. Mafnas Memorial Building on Capital Hill.

“It’s up to the members. At this time nothing has been decided. Our session on Friday is organizational.”

Aside from Borja, other members of the Tinian delegation are Sen. Jude U. Hofschneider (R- Tinian), Sen. Francisco Q. Cruz (R- Tinian), and Rep. Edwin P. Aldan (Ind-Tinian).

The Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation would be holding its own organizational session tomorrow at the House chamber with Rep. John Paul Sablan (R-Saipan) poised to win the chairmanship.

Expected to be voted the local delegation’s vice chairman is Sen. Sixto Igisomar (R-Saipan), while the SNILD floor leader would be Rep. Angel Demapan (R-Saipan).

The agreed upon SNILD standing committee chairs, meanwhile, are Sen. Justo Quitugua (Ind-Saipan), Committee on Judicial and Governmental Operations; Sen. Arnold Palacios (R-Saipan), Committee on Federal and Foreign Relations; Rep. Francis Taimanao (Ind-Saipan), Committee on Public Utilities, Transportations, and Communications; Rep. Felicidad Ogumoro (R-Saipan), Committee on Education; House Speaker Joseph P. Deleon Guerrero, Committee on Health and Welfare; Rep. Lee Pan Guerrero (R-Saipan), Committee on Tourism; Rep. Antonio Sablan (Ind-Saipan), Committee on Way and Mean; vice speaker Ralph Demapan (R-Saipan), Committee on Natural Resources; and Rep. George Camacho (R-Saipan), Committee on Commerce.

John Paul Sablan, Igisomar, and Angel Demapan would serve as co-chairs of the SNILD standing Committee on Rules and Procedure.