EXECUTIVE Order 2025-2, which abolishes the Commonwealth Casino Commission, took effect on Thursday after the House of Representatives failed to act in response to the Senate’s rejection of the EO.
Casino Commissioner Mario Taitano said on Saturday that they were reaching out to Gov. David M. Apatang to respectfully request that he rescind the EO. He added that CCC Chairman Edward C. Deleon Guerrero had already submitted a formal request to the new governor, following the House’s failure to act on the Senate communication rejecting the EO.
Citing Article III, Section 15 of the CNMI Constitution, then-Gov. Arnold I. Palacios, who issued the EO on May 30, 2025, said it would take effect 60 days after its submission unless specifically modified or disapproved by a majority of both houses of the Legislature.
The executive order proposes to transfer the CCC’s duties, responsibilities, and authority to regulate the casino industry — an enterprise whose survival now hinges on Imperial Pacific International and its potential buyer, Team King Investment (CNMI) LLC, completing the court-approved sale of IPI assets by 9 a.m. on Aug. 21, 2025.
The Senate, by a vote of 6 to 2, rejected the EO, arguing that it infringes on the Legislature’s authority. However, Gov. Apatang’s legal counsel, Brendan Layde, defended the EO during the House Gaming Committee’s July 20 meeting, stating that the Senate’s claims of unconstitutionality were unfounded.
At Thursday’s House session, Rep. Danny Aquino expressed concern that minority bloc members were not briefed on the status of the Senate communication informing the House of the EO’s rejection. He said a joint committee report from the House Gaming Committee and the Judiciary and Governmental Operations Committee “was supposed to come out.” However, he noted that the window for legislative action had already closed, yet no such report was included on the House session agenda.
“To the people of Precinct 2,” Aquino told his fellow lawmakers, “it was just a waste of time.”
Rep. Joel Camacho, who chairs the House JGO Committee, accepted responsibility.
“I’d just like to apologize to the members of the JGO and other members of the House. I know that we had a lengthy discussion regarding the governor’s EO and other matters like Judicial Branch communications. Unfortunately, I believe some of our legislative assistants were overwhelmed,” Camacho said.
He added that “in no way was this meant to circumvent the process. I apologize on behalf of the committee. I’d like to take the blame for that.” He acknowledged that a committee report was expected but said the legislative assistants were unable to complete it due to being overburdened with other tasks.
House Floor Leader Marissa Flores agreed and said this is why she supports the Legislative Bureau’s proposal to hire more legislative assistants. She noted that, unlike the Senate, which has only nine members, the House has 20 members — but only three legislative assistants serve all House members and committees.
