‘The CNMI is a better home because of Inos’

“The Commonwealth is a better place, a better home to its residents because of Gov. Inos.”

This was how Tinian Mayor Joey Patrick San Nicolas summarized the tremendous work and significant contributions that the late governor Eloy S. Inos has done for the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands after serving in both public and private offices.

As the heartbreaking news of his passing yesterday morning spread quickly, many of his constituents and fellow leaders were saddened.

“It’s a sad day in the Commonwealth because of his passing but I’m very happy for all of what he leaves behind, his legacy, not just as a governor, but as a lieutenant governor, Finance secretary, and director back in the day. He has a legacy of service to the people of the Commonwealth,” San Nicolas said.

For him, it was an honor serving with the man he thought of as “caring and giving.”

“I always remember him as a caring and giving man who to the end fought for the people of the Commonwealth. He is a true statesman, a servant of the people, and I’m proud to serve under him,” San Nicolas said.

Saipan Mayor David M. Apatang, who knew Inos since they were kids, said he will surely miss the late governor.

“It’s a very sad day for us here in the Commonwealth. I knew the late governor for a long time. We’re related. We went to school in the first and second grade together. He’s also my previous boss as the director of finance. He’s a good man, very good man. We will miss him,” Apatang said.

Asked how he would remember Inos as a leader, Rota Mayor Efraim Atalig said Inos’ trademark was that he was “very passionate for the people.”

In a statement, the CNMI Judiciary said it joins the Commonwealth in mourning the passing of Inos. “Throughout his years as a public servant and leader, Gov. Inos exemplified an enduring compassion for the Commonwealth and its people. His life’s work benefited so many, and his approachable style of leadership will be greatly missed.”

“This is a very sad day because we have lost a good friend and leader,” Chief Justice Alexandro C. Castro said. “On behalf of the Judiciary, I extend our heartfelt condolences to Gov. Inos’ family during this difficult time of grief.”

For the Hotel Association of the Northern Mariana Islands, Inos was a leader who was accommodating and strived for fairness.

“The hotel association has worked with him since 2013 when he was coming in after Fitial. He’s always been very receptive to us. He’s always made sure that he gives us his time and we’d like to thank him for that. He’s always strived to be fair,” HANMI chair Gloria Cavanagh said.

“We’re sending our condolences to the family. For the CNMI, it’s a sad day. He always had a strong presence in the CNMI even during his illness,” she added.

Saipan Chamber of Commerce president Alex Sablan said his memory of Inos would be of how he worked on the issues affecting the CNMI with great leadership.

“We lost one of the greatest leaders of our time as he gave everything he had to the Commonwealth. It is truly a sad day for all the citizens of the CNMI,” Sablan said.

For Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. chief executive officer Esther Muña, it was an honor to serve with the late governor especially with his vision for healthcare in the CNMI.

“So honored to work under him. I will miss listening to him and coming to him for guidance and leadership as he always articulates a vision for CHCC that ensures health equity for the people of the Commonwealth. I certainly will miss my conversations with this great human being and leader,” Muña said.

Inos was also a “very good boss,” according to the CNMI Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army Viola Alepuyo.

“Gov. Inos was a very intelligent man. He was very compassionate and he cared for the CNMI,” Alepuyo said. “Whenever we work together, he’ll always challenge us. He’ll always ask us to put things into a spreadsheet and once you get that spreadsheet, you better be able to answer every question because he will have a lot of questions. So he was always pushing for the benefit of the CNMI.”

Despite his powerful position, Inos was also seen as someone “very human.”

“Knowing him goes back a long way. I love the man. He’s very human; he listens to all our problems. He’s taken away from us but his memories will leave on,” Saipan Seniors Advisory Council president Maria Salinas said.

Inos was also described as “an icon in the community” who everybody loved.

“Through the years he supported me in all of my projects from the Troops To Teachers to Operation Homefront Support to working on projects in the CNMI. He has been a strong supporter of all my projects through the years. He’s a very compassionate, very loving and caring person,” Geri Willis said.

Willis said Inos, whom she remembers as a “vibrant man,” will be sorely missed.

CNMI Commonwealth Advocates for Recovery Efforts director Jenny Hegland said she has deep gratitude for the Inos’ service.

“I never had a chance to know you well, but I promise we will honor your memory by working even harder to restore the beautiful community you loved and led. May you rest in peace,” Hegland said in her message to Inos.

The Filipino community also mourned the passing of Inos as they “lost a very dear friend and ardent supporter of the Filipino community far too soon.”

“Throughout the more than three decades that the late Gov. Inos has dedicated his life, both in the private and government sectors, he has won the hearts of our community, to include our Filipino brothers and sisters who found the CNMI our second home,” said Philippine honorary consul to the CNMI Glicerio Arago.

“And with sorrow, I, on behalf of the Honorary Philippine Consular Office to the CNMI and the CNMI Filipino community, extend our profound and heartfelt condolences to his family and relatives. We also join the rest of the Commonwealth, as well as the hearts of all those he touched and worked with during this very difficult time,” he added.

United Filipino Organization president Bong Malasarte said: “On behalf of the UFO, we are sending our condolences to his family. We all know he has done a lot of good things for the CNMI and we hope that his successor will do more for the CNMI.”

Inos’ passing was also a big loss to the Japanese community.

“I heard the sudden passing of Honorable Gov. Eloy Inos with deep shock and sorrow. Under his great leadership I expected that the current friendly relationship between [the] CNMI and Japan would further grow. So, it is really a big loss for this relationship. I hereby express my sympathy and condolences to his bereaved family,” said Japanese Consul Hitoshi Kikuchi.

After his initial years of serving the public, Inos came out of retirement in 1994 to join the Tan Holdings Corp. under the Century Group of Companies where he served as president for three years.

Tan Holdings president Jerry Tan described Inos as very hardworking and honest and fair, especially in making decisions.

“He is a very hardworking individual—always the first to arrive and the last to leave his workplace. There was no weekends or holidays for him, always working 24/7,” Tan said.

“He was very good at analyzing financial numbers, and was a highly qualified Finance director under different CNMI government administrations. That same qualification probably makes him one of our best CNMI governor ever, especially dealing with the annual government budget, which is always challenging,” he added.

Tan said that Inos, who became a close friend of the Tan family, will be missed.

“As his friend, a former colleague, also having been part of my family, and now being our governor, I will miss him dearly,” Tan said.

New administration

Following Inos’ untimely passing, constituents and community leaders wished the new governor, Ralph DLG Torres, the best of luck as he takes over the reins of government.

“Under the circumstances, it’s not the happiest way of walking into the office but we believe that they know and understand the responsibilities dealing with the office and we hope for the best for the remaining three years of the term,” HANMI’s Cavanagh said.

“I want to congratulate the new governor and lieutenant governor. We look forward to continue working with them,” Apatang said. “We always worked together in the past and we hope to continue that.”

Atalig believes the new Torres administration will continue Inos’ leadership and his command for the people of the Marianas.

“We’re seeing a revival in our economy so I’m hoping that that trend continues,” Alepuyo said.

“Prayers and condolences to the family of Inos and also prayers to the lieutenant governor Ralph Torres and the future of the CNMI,” Willis said.