Santos said in an interview she has settled in her new and smaller office.
Former Rep. Manny Borja, who is Rep. Froilan C. Tenorio’s only staffer, said the former speaker is now in Santos’ former office.
Borja moved all of Tenorio’s office belongings on Saturday afternoon.
“Our office is now open for business,” Borja said.
Before he stepped down as speaker, Tenorio removed Santos as chairwoman of the Committee on Natural Resources for voting with the minority during the budget deliberations.
Rep. Joseph M. Palacios, R-Saipan, moved into the former office of Cabrera who is now in the speaker’s office.
Santos, Ind.-Rota, said she and Cabrera recognized the importance of working “cohesively and assertively” to be able to tackle the economic challenges confronting the commonwealth through “revenue generating legislation.”
As public servants, she said addressing the CNMI’s “economic impotency should be their paramount goal as they cannot overemphasize the need to work continuously in the spirit of harmony and unity.”
She said she will support any revenue generating bill as long as it is for the best interest of the people of the CNMI.
She does not support Tenorio’s proposal to legalize casinos on Saipan.
“It is my belief that casino should be ratified through a people’s initiative instead of legislation as the electorates of the affected senatorial district should be accorded the opportunity to vote on a casino which is a highly controversial and sensitive issue,” Santos said.
She noted that the people of Rota and Tinian decided to legalize casino only after several failed initiatives and not through legislation.
She said the voters of Saipan should decide on the matter. “That is the beauty of democracy,” she added.
