Paul A. Manglona
GOVERNOR David M. Apatang on Wednesday appointed former Sen. Paul A. Manglona to fill the Rota Senate seat vacated by former Senate President Dennis Mendiola.
Mendiola became lieutenant governor after Apatang, the then-lieutenant governor, succeeded Gov. Arnold I. Palacios, who passed away on July 23, 2025.
In his letter to Acting Senate President Karl King-Nabors, Apatang noted the vacancy in the Senate for Rota or the First Senatorial District. He cited Section 9 of Article II of the NMI Constitution, which mandates 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.”
Apatang also cited a 2013 CNMI Supreme Court ruling in Maratita v. Cruz, stating that the term “last election,” as used in the Constitution, “means the most recent chronological election” for the vacant Senate seat in that senatorial district.
Accordingly, and pursuant to Article II, Section 9 of the NMI Constitution, Apatang stated, “I am appointing Paul A. Manglona to fill the vacancy in the First Senatorial District based on the certified results of the last election in 2024 for that office, as confirmed by the CNMI Office of the Attorney General.”
Manglona, who was first elected to the Senate in 1987, lost to Ronnie Calvo in the November 2024 election.
Today, Thursday, July 31, 2025, at 3 p.m., the Senate will hold a special session to, among other things, reorganize its leadership by electing a new Senate president, vice president, floor leader, and legislative secretary.
Variety was told that the Senate leadership is poised to support the election of King-Nabors as the next Senate president and Sen. Corina Magofna as vice president. The leadership will also retain Senate Floor Leader Donald Manglona and Legislative Secretary Frank Q. Cruz.
In an interview on Wednesday, Sen. Paul A. Manglona said he was humbled to accept the Senate appointment for the third time, calling it “a rare and remarkable privilege that I deeply appreciate.”
He noted that with eight successful elections and three vacancy appointments spanning more than 36 years, “I am honored to have served our community for such a long period.”
He pledged “to continue working tirelessly on behalf of our constituents, addressing the challenges we face, and advocating for the needs of our community.” He expressed sincere gratitude to Governor Apatang for promptly fulfilling his constitutional duty following the death of “our beloved Gov, Arnold Palacios,” and thanked the people of Rota “for electing me time and again, demonstrating their trust and confidence in me.”
“I am committed to upholding the trust placed in me and serving our community with integrity and dedication,” he added.
He was previously appointed to fill Senate vacancies twice: 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 in 2015, when he was again appointed to the Senate after Sen. Victor B. Hocog was sworn in as lieutenant governor following the death of Gov. Eloy S. Inos, which elevated then-Lt. Gov. Ralph DLG Torres to governor.
