Speaker Edmund S. Villagomez, center, delivers his remarks before the 22nd House adjourned sine die on Thursday. Also in photo are acting House Floor Leader John Paul Sablan, Vice Speaker Blas Jonathan Attao, House clerk Linda Muna and House legal counsel John Bradley.
Rep. Sheila Babauta, center, poses with her parents, from left, Diego R. Babauta and Dolorina, and campaign chair Susan Babauta, 2nd right, with husband John Babauta, right, after the 22nd House adjourned sine die on Thursday.
THE 22nd House of Representatives is the “real deal,” according to Rep. John Paul P. Sablan in his remarks during their final session on Thursday.
He said the 22nd House marked his fifth term as a lawmaker, and he thinks “this was the real deal, the best members ever in my experience so I thank you all for the great honor and experience.”
He also thanked his fellow Precinct 2 representative, Tina Sablan, for the collaborative work that they have done for constituents.
Rep. JP Sablan was elected as a Republican, but left the party to support another former Republican, then-Lt. Gov. Arnold I. Palacios, who ran for governor as an Independent candidate. Palacios and his running mate, then-Saipan Mayor David M. Apatang, another former Republican, won the election.
Reelected as an Independent, Rep. JP Sablan said the 22nd House acted as a “check and balance with any funding whether from outside source or local funds.”
He said the House joint committee’s hearings on the Building, Optimism, Opportunity, and Stability Together or BOOST program were part of an “investigation…for transparency and accountability because the job of the Legislature is to [act as a] check and balance for all public funds.”
He said they “asserted the power of the Legislature, and that’s the real deal.”
Rep. JP Sablan extended his sincere thanks to all his colleagues “for the great honor and experience to have worked with you all. It is really a great experience.”
He also thanked Speaker Edmund Villagomez, Ind.-Saipan, for his “outstanding leadership in maintaining decorum and making sure as much as possible that we had smooth sessions.”
Rep. Joel Camacho agreed with JP Sablan, saying “yes, this is the real deal.”
He said it has been “an honor working alongside with all his fellow representatives,” but added that it “has really been sentimental to me because I had to do some pretty difficult things as you all know,” referring to his “connection” with outgoing Republican Gov. Ralph DLG Torres. Camacho said he is the governor’s godson.
“With that in itself, I’ve learned a lot about myself, through you guys and I want to thank both the minority bloc and the leadership. I’ve learned a lot from you guys. It’s been an interesting term, it has been an honor,” Camacho added.
Like JP Sablan, Camacho was elected on the Republican ticket in 2020, but left the party to support the Palacios-Apatang ticket. Camacho was reelected this year as an Independent.
Two other former Republicans, Vice Speaker Blas Jonathan Attao and House Floor Leader Ralph Yumul, also supported Palacios-Apatang and were reelected as Independents.
JP Sablan, Camacho, Attao and Yumul voted to impeach Torres who was acquitted by the Republican-led Senate.
Not a great thing
In his remarks, Attao noted that the House Committee on Judiciary and Governmental Operations of the 22nd House unanimously voted to hold Governor Torres in contempt of a legislative subpoena after he failed to appear before the panel to answer questions pertaining to his public expenditures.
It was the first time in CNMI history that a legislative committee found an incumbent governor in contempt of a legislative subpoena.
“It was not a great thing to talk about,” Attao said, “but it was something that actually opened a lot of doors for all the issues that we faced for the CNMI not just financially but economically and our position moving forward as the CNMI.”
Attao said the 22nd House’s term has been “the most exciting, most difficult, and most interesting — we faced a lot of challenges financially….”
He said in jest that “we were better off when we were facing a financial crisis because when we had a lot of money that’s when everything went crazy.”
He said “it’s unfortunate but we did our job through the leadership of JGO chair, Rep. Celina Babauta, and Ways and Means Chairman Donald Manglona.”
Attao thanked them “for shedding light on a lot of these issues.”
He also thanked Speaker Villagomez for his leadership and for “taking care” of the 22nd House.
Attao likewise thanked his colleagues “for everything that they have done for the community, for this body, and for yourselves personally because it takes a lot of time and effort [to do] this job…. The only thing guaranteed in this job is being broke in the end.”
In addition, Attao thanked House Minority Leader Angel Demapan for taking over the job after Rep. Ivan Blanco passed away, and for leading all House members to participate in various community programs.
Overarching themes
Outgoing Saipan Rep. Tina Sablan, the Democratic Party’s former candidate for governor, congratulated the members who will be returning to the 23rd House and those who were elected senators.
She noted that “there were more subpoenas issued in this Legislature than ever before. And the importance of all of that, when I reflect on the events in the past two years, was that the over-arching theme of this term is how critical checks and balances are in our system of government.”
She added, “Because make no mistake, our democracy was tested in this Legislature. And it will continue to be tested. And our duty as citizens [and] as public servants is to be vigilant and continually defend this democracy, hold accountable public officials who abuse public trust and make our government responsive and ethical, a government that we can all be proud of and the kind of government that the people deserve.”
She also expressed her “sincerest gratitude” to the people of Precinct 2 and of the Commonwealth who have given her “the great privilege of serving and representing them in this Legislature [and] as chair of the Health and Welfare Committee in the 22nd House.”
She said she is “especially proud of the measures we took to support the health and well-being of the people and especially the most vulnerable members our community.”
These included the restoration, through federal funds, of the earned income tax credit for the Commonwealth’s working families.
She said they also “improved and expanded access to mental health services to the Commonwealth…through the inter-state compact for mental health, and passed funding measures to support healthcare and education, and all of those were signed into law.”
She added, “I note that we endured both typhoon recovery and a pandemic together in this term. And we took steps to keep close tabs on the expenditures of all the federal funds that came into the Commonwealth, and there were probably more investigations in this term than there have ever been before [to] safeguard…public resources.”
She thanked the JGO chair, Rep. Celina Babauta, for taking the lead in investigating the governor’s public expenditures which led to his impeachment.
Rep. Tina Sablan said this “signaled to our entire community that no one is above the law, not even the governor.”
She likewise thanked the “amazing staff of Legislative Bureau” as well as her colleagues for their “hard work, collaboration and friendship.”
As fair as possible
Speaker Edmund Villagomez thanked the people of the CNMI most especially the people of Precinct 3 for giving him the honor and the privilege to serve in the 22nd House.
He also thanked his family and campaign committee as well as his colleagues “for all your hard work and your support throughout this term.”
Ha added, “When I say colleagues I also mean to include the late [Saipan Republican] Rep. Ivan Blanco. Although we have had our differences, not just between the leadership and the minority bloc…I tried to be as fair as possible and lead to the best of my ability. We have done some great things, and although I would have liked to see something done a certain way or more things done, I’ve always made it a point to allow you all to lead in your own ways.”
As for the Legislative Bureau staff, “I can’t thank you enough for all that you do. Thank you for all your support and work — without you we will not be able to serve the people the way we do. You are big part of our service to the people and never forget that when you do your duties and responsibilities whether you are a clerk, legal counsel, legislative assistant or sergeant-at-arms — all those things that you do are not just for us members but for the people.”
Amazing
Outgoing Rep. Leila Staffler, D-Saipan, said there were “some amazing things that happened” during the tenure of the 22nd House.
Just to start with, the community elected six women to the House of Representatives, “the most ever,” said Staffler, Rep. Tina Sablan’s running mate in the gubernatorial election.
“And we have done a lot of hard work,” Staffler said. “We were one of the most transparent having almost [all] sessions and most committee meetings shown online and posted online for the community to see the legislative process and witness the conversations on big issues. We were probably the most watched House so far….”
She added, “It has definitely been an honor and pleasure to serve with each of you in this body and I look forward to the future work that the next House incumbents and newly elected leaders will bring. Thank you in advance for continuing the good work for the CNMI and keep fighting corruption, keep pushing for transparency, keep pushing for accountability, and I thank you all for starting on time for these last two years. I know that the community really appreciated being able to give their public comments right when public comments were scheduled. I am grateful to have had this great experience with each of you, and till the next time, thank you.”
“We did a lot”
Outgoing Rep. Richard Lizama, the Democratic Party’s unsuccessful candidate for Saipan mayor, said it’s been a great experience.
“I want everybody in Precinct 5 to hear this: Thank very much for allowing me to serve you. My four years we did accomplished a lot, especially with my partner Rep. Leila Staffler,” he said.
He also thanked Rep. Tina Sablan. “Thank you for making things happen, helping us get these bills as you always fight for everybody [and] to get…bills passed….”
Lizama likewise thanked the Legislative Bureau staff “from the bottom of his heart.”
Period of growth
Outgoing Rep. Sheila Babauta, D-Saipan, said she was “so grateful for this moment.”
“It has been such an honor and such a pleasure” to serve as a House member for the past four years, she added.
“It has been a period of growth — of personal and professional growth,” she said, adding that she “learned so much.”
Rep. Sheila Babauta, who did not seek reelection, likewise thanked the Legislative Bureau staff, her friends and family and supporters, her campaign chairwoman, Susan Babauta, her parents, Diego Reyes Babauta and Dolorina Babauta, and the people of Precinct 4.
Humbling experience
House Minority Leader Angel Demapan, R-Saipan, thanked the people of Precinct 1 for the opportunity to serve the Commonwealth in the 19th, 20th and 22nd Legislatures.
“It has been an extraordinary and humbling experience and privilege to be of service to our people. I’d also like to thank my staff, the LB director and all the staff, Team Angel and especially my wife and children. It’s been an honor to be a part of our Commonwealth’s development and growth. As I now step away from public office to explore new career pathways, I convey my best wishes to the incoming leaders…and wish them all success, good health and good spirit in the years to come. Thank you,” said Demapan who ran unsuccessfully for Saipan senator.
Thankful
Rep. Donald Manglona, Ind.-Rota, said the minority bloc in the 21st House became the leadership in the 22nd House.
“I just want to extend my appreciation to all of you, for your professionalism, your partnership, your passion in ensuring the best not just for the Commonwealth but for our brothers and sister on Rota. As you know, being the lone representative, we rely heavily on the help of all of you in trying to get things for Rota. So for that, thank you from the people of Rota we thank you,” the incoming Rota senator added.
Rep. Edwin Propst, D-Saipan, thanked the nine members who are “moving on.”
“I just want to say to you, thank you so much for all you have given to not just this body but to the community, to your precinct, to the entire Commonwealth. I thank you for the debates that we have had, the discussions we shared but most importantly, your friendship and the kindness you bestowed upon not just me but my family. I appreciate the time you take when we are out of office, to greet and say hello and to have talks, and sometimes even break bread and have meals,” he said.
“But there is a sad part in my heart,” he added, referring to the outgoing members. “I can think of so many of you. One is Rep. Tina Sablan. I am very sad because who is going to proofread all of our stuff and find the smallest details? [Y]ou are amazing. You’re one of the few people I know that reads every single bill and goes over every page. That is hugely time-consuming. And I [come] to you before a session to get the clip notes. And I’m going to miss that.”
Propst added, “I also want to say that this is one body [that] sometimes [has] divisions but always kept professional. I thank the minority bloc led by our Minority Leader Angel Demapan, for…being a gentleman, for reaching out, [for] bring[ing] the arguments and…debates but always bringing them in an intellectual way and I always appreciated your service and that will be missed, and I wish you and your family the very best…. And thank you for your friendship and for all you have contributed to our Precinct 1. Speaker, thank you for your leadership and for everyone we served with especially our staff, our hardworking clerk, our legal counsels who always correct us — I appreciate that so much.”
Saipan Rep. Celina Babauta, an incoming Democratic senator, thanked Legislative Bureau Director Perry Tenorio and staff.
She also thanked House clerk Linda Muna, saying “I learned a lot from you.”
She likewise thanked the legal counsels “who keep me out of trouble for the most part.”
Lastly, she thanked her husband, former Rep. Franklin Babauta, and their children for the support and prayers. “They love to walk with me in this journey. It is not easy.”
