COMMONWEALTH Election Commission Executive Director Kayla S. Igitol on Monday recommended the certification of seven candidacies, including that of independent Rep. John Paul Palacios Sablan and CNMI Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management Special Assistant Dennis James Camacho Mendiola.
Sablan of Precinct 2 has served in the House of Representatives since the 18th Legislature and is seeking re-election, while Mendiola, a Republican, is a senatorial candidate on Rota.
Also included in the seven are House Precinct 2 Republican candidate Keith Cabrera Ada and House Precinct 3 independent candidate Marissa Renee Flores.
It was Ada who challenged the candidacies of Flores, his former wife, and Rep. JP Sablan, saying that neither lived in the precincts where they are running for office.
CEC Executive Director Igitol said after conducting an investigation into these challenges, it was determined that the seven candidates have submitted the necessary documentation to prove their eligibility.
She likewise recommended the certification of Senate independent candidate for Rota Edward Castro Maratita Jr. as well as House Rota independent candidates Edward Castro Barcinas and Julie Marie Atalig Ogo.
Barcinas, Ogo, and Republican Ivan Mereb will be going head-to-head for the single seat representing Rota in the House.
Maratita, Special Assistant Mendiola, Rota Mayor Efraim Manglona Atalig, and Rep. Donald Manalang Manglona are vying for the two Rota Senate seats.
As for another independent Rota senatorial hopeful, Crispin Manglona Ogo, Igitol said the CEC had been unable to reach him and was unable to move forward with the investigation into the challenges to Ogo’s candidacy.
However, later on, during the board meeting, the CEC finally heard back from Ogo who said he would address the issues with his candidacy.
The CEC is challenging the candidacies of Alfredo Taisacan Taimanao, who is running for Rota mayor, and Edwin Raymond Quitugua who is running for the Saipan and Northern Islands Municipal Council.
The CEC held a public hearing on Monday for Taimanao and Quitugua.
However, the CEC learned that Quitugua had been admitted to the hospital and that he requested a postponement of his public hearing.
The CEC was able to move forward with Taimanao’s hearing, with Deputy Attorney General Lillian Tenorio representing CEC Executive Director Igitol and Assistant Attorney General Carl Dela Cruz acting as legal counsel for the election board.
Taimanao did not have legal representation at the hearing.
Both Igitol and Taimanao have until close of business day, Wednesday, Aug. 24, to submit their respective proposed orders for consideration.
From there, the commissioners will deliberate and make a decision as soon as possible.
The last day for the election commission’s action on nominating petitions and candidacy documents is Sept. 23.
Commonwealth Election Commission Executive Director Kayla S. Igitol is sworn in prior to providing testimony in the CEC board hearing on Rota mayoral candidate Alfredo Taisacan Taimanao.
