Speaker: I will honor my word

House Speaker Joseph P. Deleon Guerrero (Ind-Saipan) said his bloc of independent representatives would honor their agreement with NMI Republican Party representatives led by vice speaker Rafael S. Demapan (R-Saipan) and that he will indeed slide down to the vice speakership in 2016.

Rep. John Paul Sablan (R-Saipan), who will transition to the former office of Rep. Edmund Villagomez (Ind-Saipan), had his staff place his furniture and other stuff on the House hallway in anticipation of the move. (Mark Rabago)

“I will honor my word. I don’t want to dwell on other possibilities,” he said.

In an unprecedented move, Deleon Guerrero and Demapan’s groups came to an agreement the night before Monday’s inauguration and House of Representatives organizational session wherein the former will hold the speakership for the first year and the latter on the second year.

“The agreement was not only will we share the leadership but also the speakership. This is another coalition just like the 18th. The only difference is even the speakership will be shared. That is what broke the stalemate, this idea to share the speakership between me and Ralph, with one serving the first year and the second one will serve the second year,” he said.

Deleon Guerrero said aside from the Top 2 posts, the other positions of the leadership would remain the same after Jan. 11, 2016, which is the agreed upon date that Deleon Guerrero and Demapan would switch places.

“The leadership remains the same and the chairmanships remain the same. The only thing that’s going to change is the speaker and vice speaker. Everything else will remain the same.”

The speaker also said the House would not be scheduling sessions this week because of the moving of offices.

“Right now the [Legislative] Bureau staff, my staff, all the staff are trying to help get people situated. I personally visited the various offices, the minority, all the members that are trying to get situated, making sure that they’re being assisted by the Bureau, making sure they have what they need to operate–a desk, a table, chairs, computers, fax machines, phones. Make sure they’re getting situated. I’ve talked to the Bureau staff and asked them to do their best and help the people.”

Deleon Guerrero said hopefully when the “transition” concludes then the House can finally start conducting its business, which is to make laws.

“The sooner that could happen, the sooner we can conduct business and the sooner we can start working,” he said.

One of those moving is Rep. John Paul Sablan (R-Saipan), who will transition to the former office of Rep. Edmund Villagomez (Ind-Saipan).

“We’re moving in we started this afternoon,” he said.

Sablan said his staff placed his furniture and other stuff on the House hallway in anticipation of the move. He also denied having problems with Villagomez.

“No problem with Villagomez it’s just that his staff was off yesterday. We’re in communication actually. Had my staff put my stuff on the hallways but once Mr. Villagomez is ready, we would move in,” he said.

Saipan Tribune contacted Villagomez and the representative said “no comment” on whether he has opted not to move to a new office.

Rep. Ramon A. Tebuteb (Ind-Saipan), meanwhile, said that Villagomez might have a valid point if he decides to keep his old office.

“However, there’s also a law that governs that…the law that gives the Legislative Bureau authority over the properties of the Legislative Bureau.”

Personally, Tebuteb, who has moved to Rep. Ray Yumul’s (Ind-Saipan) room, said he doesn’t mind moving to a smaller office.

“The size of the room doesn’t really matter to me…it’s the one inside the office that matters,” he said.