Rep. Victor B. Hocog, Ind.-Rota, lost his cool and slammed his table when Rep. Tina Sablan, Ind.-Saipan, interrupted him to make a point during their deliberation on House Bill 16-25 which was passed by a vote of 14-1.
“Wait for your turn to be recognized,” Hocog told Sablan while pounding his table.
Hocog sponsored H.B. 16-25 which will require the Senate’s consent in selecting appointees for the Medical Professional Licensing Board.
During a previous session, Hocog also made a side comment that Rep. Heinz Hofschneider, R-Saipan, “talks too much” and that was why they had to constantly change their audio tapes during sessions.
Hofschneider took it in stride but the other lawmakers snickered and so were the people in the gallery.
Speaker Arnold I. Palacios, R-Saipan, said lawmakers must first raise their hands just like in a classroom and should be recognized by him before they can speak on the floor.
House Minority Leader Oscar M. Babauta, Covenant-Saipan, said: “I ask humbly appeal to the members of this House to be calm. Let’s have a democratic parliamentary proceeding.”
Babauta later stood up and whispered something to Hocog.
