Teresita Santos
DEPARTMENT of Public Lands Secretary Teresita A. Santos has resigned.
In her letter to Gov. Arnold I. Palacios and Lt. Gov. David M. Apatang dated March 14, 2025, Santos said after serious thought and consideration, she was officially tendering her resignation effective April 11, 2025.
She also submitted her application for leave beginning March 20, 2025 and ending on April 11, 2025 to take care of personal matters.
“I would like to extend my sincerest gratitude to both of you for the opportunity to work under your administration,” Santos said.
A former House member and senator from Rota, Santos was appointed DPL secretary by Apatang, in his capacity as acting governor, in February 2023.
She submitted her resignation letter to the governor and lt. governor two days after expressing her opposition to Senate Bill 24-18, which would require DPL to submit its proposed annual budget to the Legislature for approval. It would also require the DPL secretary to provide the Legislature a detailed report of all revenues collected and expenditures within 30 days at the end of each quarter.
In her letter to the Legislature, Santos said the bill would severely undermine DPL’s ability to manage public funds and fulfill its fiduciary responsibilities to the Marianas Public Land Trust.
