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Torres scouting for next head of VMA
Freshman lawmaker Rep. Greg Sablan (R-Saipan) has left his position as head of the Veterans and Military Affairs Office since being sworn in on Capital Hill.
VMA deputy director Bernadita Boyer Dela Cruz is now the acting executive director.
Dela Cruz has been with the VMA office for more than 12 years.
According to Sablan, the appointed executive director for VMA has to be a retired veteran, but it is up to the governor to assign someone to the position.
Gov. Ralph DLG Torres told reporters that he is currently going through names that are interested in the position.
“I would be meeting with them [soon] to fill the position. In the meantime, I have Bernie as acting,” said Torres.
Torres said that Sablan made some recommendations as to who he thinks is a good fit for the position.
“[Sablan] gave me some recommendations but ultimately, the decision is all up to my office,” said Torres.
He hopes to fill the position within two weeks.
“ I have this week to meet up with other people that is interested in the position,” he said. “All of them are former retired military men.”
Sablan was appointed as the VMA executive director back on Feb. 8, 2016, before winning the election as a member of the CNMI House of Representatives. Sablan is ranked as a lieutenant colonel and is looking to retire from the Army in mid-2017.
