Torres: Palacios nowhere at the height of COVID

Gov. Ralph DLG Torres and his running mate, Sen. Vinnie Vinson F. Sablan (R-Saipan), hold a press conference at the Republican Party headquarters in Garapan yesterday afternoon. (FERDIE DE LA TORRE)

Gov. Ralph DLG Torres said yesterday that people never saw Lt. Gov. Arnold I. Palacios around at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic because he was afraid, which left him alone to do the work because Palacios didn’t do anything.

Speaking at a press conference at the Republican Party’s headquarters in Garapan, Torres, 43, said it’s no secret that he was flying solo throughout the pandemic.

“He’s afraid to go. …He’s afraid to go to any of the COVID sites. He’s afraid to go to the airport. He’s afraid to even visit any of the first responders,” said the governor, referring to Palacios.

Torres and his running mate, Sen. Vinnie Vinson F. Sablan (R-Saipan), held a press conference at the Republican Party headquarters in Garapan yesterday to thank those who voted and supported them in the Nov. 8 general elections and to share their views and plans about the runoff election.

Torres and Sablan, the Republican Party’s gubernatorial bet, won the general elections, but failed to gain a majority share of the votes, paving the way for a runoff election against second placer, Palacios and David M. Apatang, of the unified independent team, in the three-way Nov. 8 gubernatorial race.

In response to a question during the press briefing, Torres said that, as an obligated governor, he made sure that he was there with the COVID-19 first responders.

Torres said this is why he continues to emphasize that the government and the people of the Commonwealth need a governor and a lieutenant governor who are not afraid to do work.

“If you don’t like me as a governor and you’re running with me, and we’re done, that’s fine. But you have an obligation to your people, the Commonwealth. Can he say that? Can he literally say that I’ve been here for the people of the Commonwealth for the last four years?” asked Torres, referring to Palacios.

The governor said he hopes that Palacios can say that, but that he guarantees that he can’t because he’s nowhere to be found.

“I’m saying it because the people of the Commonwealth need to know the truth. Where was he during the time that the Commonwealth needed him the most? I was there and I will continue to be there until January. And if I get blessed, I’ll serve another term for them,” Torres said.

Torres, Sablan call for debates

Torres and Sablan are calling for a gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial debate.

In a statement yesterday, Torres and Sablan said: “Our dear people of the CNMI deserve the opportunity to fully compare us directly as candidates for governor and lieutenant governor, before they decide who will lead our islands for the next four years.

“Therefore, we call for a gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial debate—one-on-one on two separate evenings—to give our people an open discussion about our respective plans for the future.

“We hope that the Palacios-Apatang campaign supports having a real debate on the issues.”

‘Thank you’

With respect to the election results, Torres thanked the people for coming out to vote.

“I truly from the bottom of my heart thank you all for voicing your opinion and your vote, practicing your constitutional right,” he said.

Now that the general election is over, Torres said the CNMI will move forward to finalize the gubernatorial race through a runoff election.

Sablan, 45, said it’s been a long process as the campaign started a year and four months ago. “As the governor said, I want to thank all the voters that came out to exercise their right, duty in this election.”

Sablan said they did know that there were a significant number who failed to vote, but they are hoping that during the runoff election they will come out and exercise their right to vote.

“We want to thank our supporters, the candidates, and everyone involved that came out through the campaign and through the election,” the senator said.

As for the defeated Democratic Party’s gubernatorial bets Rep. Christina E. Sablan (D-Saipan) and Rep. Leila F. Staffler (D_Saipan) throwing their support behind the Palacios-Apatang tandem in the runoff race, Torres said it’s obvious that the two tandems are in collusion and that people saw that during the gubernatorial debate as both teams piled on him.

Torres said they have been getting supporters from independent team as well as from the Democrats coming over and saying they want to support their tandem.

He said he and Sablan just want to stay focused and want to reach out to Democrats and would like to welcome them and their supporters.

“At the end of the day, we will be there for everyone, just like what we’ve done in the past in making sure that we take care of our community, whether it’s [Super] Typhoon Yutu, Typhoon Soudelor, or Typhoon Mangkhut, or the pandemic,” the governor said.

Torres said the message they want to send out is to have someone here and with him who is not afraid to do work.

When asked about the news that Sablan-Staffler of the Democratic Party are joining hands with the Palacios-Apatang team, Sablan said he respects that as everyone has a choice.

“They’re going to reach out to whoever they can. We’re going to reach out to whoever we can. That’s the process. That’s the structure, that’s the system of elections,” the senator said.

Sablan said they are going to do what they need to do to be in a place to create programs and to improve the quality of lives of people.

“I have the utmost trust, faith, and confidence in our voters. Those that will come out and choose a governor and a lieutenant governor that will do well for them,” he said.

Asked about his personal opinion about the runoff election law, Torres agreed with Attorney General Edward Manibusan that it would be better to repeal the law and that he is hoping this year is the last one, because it drains everyone.

“It doesn’t matter who you are, it drains everybody,” Torres said.
He said it’s easier to get this one election and it’s done.