Regents Maria T. Peter and Elaine Hocog-Orilla voted for Lizama while Frank Rabauliman voted for Orsini.
Lizama and Orsini voted for themselves.
The election was held after long-time educator Maria Paz C. Younis resigned as regent and chairwoman of the board on Feb. 14.
The board is a seven-member body but with only five members since Gov. Benigno R. Fitial has yet to appoint the replacements of Younis and Charles V. Cepeda.
A campus observer, who declined to be identified, noted that Lizama did not secure a majority.
“It takes four votes to approve an action of the board,” the observer added. “The current policy of the board should comply with the law that governs the college.”
But former Justice Jesus C. Borja, the board’s legal counsel, said Lizama’s election was secured by a simple majority vote.
NMC, which was placed on a continued show cause status by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, has to submit a report by March 15, 2011.
The observer said Lizama, as board chairman, will represent the regents during the commission’s next meeting regarding NMC’s accreditation but has yet to familiarize himself with the college’s accreditation issues.
Except for Lizama, the observer added, all the other regents have undergone training on accreditation.
Peter, in expressing her support for Lizama, said the retired judge has more time to devote to NMC matters.
“The way the vote came out, there is no unity among the board of regents,” the observer said.
