THE Senate, in a session held on Rota last Friday, has confirmed the nominations of Fermin S. Atalig as commerce secretary and Prudencio T. Manglona as member of the Commonwealth Ports Authority’s board of directors.
In an interview yesterday, Senate President Paul A. Manglona, R-Rota, said five of the six Senate members present in the session voted in favor of Atalig’s nomination.
Sen. Pete P. Reyes, R-Saipan, opposed Atalig’s nomination due to the commerce secretary’s alleged misuse of credit card that belonged to the then Marianas Public Land Corp. while he was a board member of the agency.
Five senators voted in favor of Manglona’s nomination. The Senate president abstained as Prudencio T. Manglona, Rota’s former mayor, is his father.
Sens. Ramon S. Guerrero, American Reform-Saipan, David M. Cing, D-Tinian, and Thomas P. Villagomez, R-Saipan, failed to attend the session.
The Senate also passed H.B. 13-136 which was introduced by House Floor Leader Jesus T. Attao, R-Saipan; and S.B. 13-14 introduced by Senate Vice President Jose M. Dela Cruz, D-Tinian.
H.B. 13-136 would reappropriate $2 million from P.L. 12-64 for the construction of dialysis centers on Rota and Tinian.
Senate President Manglona praised his colleagues at the House of Representatives for coming up with the bill which he said will be of great help to the dialysis patients from the two islands who have to leave their families when they fly to Saipan for treatment.
H.B. 13-136 is up for Gov. Juan N. Babauta’s action.
