Deleon Guerrero and the other Republican members — Ray A. Tebuteb, Ray N. Yumul, Tony P. Sablan, Francisco S. Dela Cruz, Trenton B. Conner — met at 9 a.m. to elect a new minority leader.
Joining them was Independent Rota Rep. Teresita A. Santos.
They met at the Legislative Bureau’s staff lounge which Yumul said has become the minority bloc’s “conference room.” They used to meet in the office of Rep. Joseph M. Palacios R-Saipan, but he is now with the leadership.
Newly appointed Rep. Janet U. Maratita, who ran as a Republican in 2009, was invited to the meeting but declined, saying she wants to remain “independent.”
Former House Minority Leader Diego T. Benavente said he is glad that Deleon Guerrero replaced him.
“We really have a lot of things in common and we have tackled a lot of issues together,” Benavente said.
He said most of the time, he and Deleon Guerrero agreed on many issues facing the commonwealth.
“I’m glad that the minority selected him,” he said as he expressed confidence that the issues he fought for during House debates will continue to be advocated by the new minority leader.
Benavente also said he understands Maratita’s decision to distance herself from the minority because of her relationship with the administration and the House leadership.
Maratita supported the Covenant Party in the gubernatorial runoff and was appointed as Department of Public Health program manager after the election.
Benavente described Maratita as “a very independent-minded person and she basically follows her conscience.”
This, he added, is something that the minority bloc and the leadership will respect.
Senate President Paul A. Manglona, Ind.-Rota, said he has worked in the past with Deleon Guerrero whom he described as a “hard-working individual who cares for the people.”
Manglona said he is confident Deleon Guerrero would be a good minority leader.
Senate Floor Leader Pete S. Reyes, R-Saipan, said Deleon Guerrero “has the temperament to work with other members of the House.”
Deleon Guerrero also has a “very cordial” relationship with the senators, Reyes added.
“I am happy and I congratulate the minority for their choice. I also know that he has the ability to represent fully the minority in its interaction with the majority in the House,” he said.
Deleon Guerrero vowed to carry on Benavente’s work.
He said under his leadership the minority will push its own bills that are still in different committees.
“We will see if we can push those bills to come out and move them forward,” he added.
Deleon Guerrero said under his leadership, the minority bloc will review administration-backed legislation.
“If they are good we are going to support them,” he said, adding that acting on a bill is not a partisan thing.
It is about weighing a bill if it is good for the people or not, he said.
“That is our job here — to make sure that we review them thoroughly as you see we always do,” he added.
“There is one thing that distinguishes us from the leadership and that is we scrutinize bills. And we are going to continue [doing] that,” he said.
