SENATOR Celina R. Babauta of Saipan is appointing Sen. Francisco Q. Cruz of Tinian to the Senate Judiciary, Government and Law Committee to fill the seat vacated by Rota Sen. Dennis James Mendiola who resigned on Monday from the JGL and Executive Appointments and Governmental Investigations committees.
He said he resigned so that the committees could have members from Tinian.
In her memorandum on Wednesday, Babauta, who chairs the EAGI and JGL committees, informed the Tinian and Aguiguan Legislative Delegation chairman, Sen. Karl King-Nabors, that “in the interest of moving forward with important Senate matters, and should he accept, I am appointing Senator Francisco Q. Cruz to replace and fill the vacant seat left by Senator Dennis C. Mendiola’s resignation on the JGL Committee.”
Babauta has yet to appoint Mendiola’s replacement on the EAGI committee.
In her memo, Babauta said she met with Cruz on April 10, and expressed her “unconditional sincerity” in allowing the “all-inclusive” participation of Tinian senators in EAGI and JGL meetings.
She said the fact that Senate President Edith Deleon Guerrero, who is not a member of both committees, has voluntarily participated in their official meetings on numerous occasions “is demonstrative of this openness.”
This has been “the custom and traditional practice” since her days in the 22nd House and she continues to extend that open practice in the 23rd Senate, Babauta said.
She said since her meeting with Cruz in April, none of the Tinian senators have expressed any concern about the committees.
She said she continues to extend an “open invitation” to the Tinian senators to attend EAGI and JGL committee meetings.
She said the “input” of senators from Tinian is important to the committees and most especially to the CNMI.
Sen. Frank Q. Cruz, second left, with Senate Vice President Donald M. Manglona, left, Sen. Paul A. Manglona second right, and Sen. Dennis James Mendiola during a Senate session.
