Sen. Paul A. Manglona, fourth left, and Associate Judge Teresa Kim-Tenorio, fourth right, with Senate President Karl King-Nabors, third left, and other members of the 24th Senate following Manglona’s swearing-in ceremony on Thursday in the Senate chamber.
Legislative Bureau photo
PAUL A. Manglona took his seat in the 24th Senate on Thursday, marking his third constitutionally required appointment to represent Rota.
With Associate Judge Teresa Kim-Tenorio administering the oath, Manglona — first elected to the Senate in 1987 — filled the Rota seat vacated by Senate President Dennis James Mendiola, who became lieutenant governor after Lt. Gov. David M. Apatang succeeded Gov. Arnold I. Palacios, following Palacios’ passing on July 23, 2025.
Section 9, Article II of the CNMI Constitution requires the governor to “fill the vacancy by appointing the unsuccessful candidate for the office in the last election who received the largest number of votes and is willing to serve.”
Manglona lost to Ronnie Calvo in the November 2024 election.
Sen. Frank Q. Cruz, chair of the Executive Appointments and Government Investigations Committee and the Credentials Committee, reported that his committee recommends accepting Manglona’s credentials, seating him in the 24th Senate to serve the remainder of former Senate President Mendiola’s term, and granting him all rights, privileges, immunities, and responsibilities of the office.
Manglona described his appointment as a “very rare privilege that I do not take lightly.”
With eight senatorial elections and three vacancy appointments spanning more than 36 years, Manglona said he was honored to have had the opportunity to serve the people of the Commonwealth. He thanked the people of Rota for the honor of serving them over the decades, pledging that as long as he holds office, he will give his full efforts to put the people first.
Manglona also thanked and congratulated Senate President Karl King-Nabors, Senate Vice President Corina Magofna, Senate Floor Leader Donald M. Manglona, and the rest of the senators. He greeted all his friends in the gallery and “the so many people” in the Senate lobby, including his circle of friends known as the “McDonald’s Manamko’ Breakfast Club.”
Sen. Paul Manglona was previously appointed to fill Senate vacancies twice: first in 2013, following the resignation of Sen. Juan Ayuyu, who pleaded guilty to a federal offense involving the transportation of fruit bats from Rota to Saipan; and again in 2015, when Senate President Victor B. Hocog was sworn in as lieutenant governor after the death of Gov. Eloy S. Inos, which elevated then-Lt. Gov. Ralph DLG Torres to governor.
