Mendiola, Covenant-Rota, is the third lawmaker to announce his retirement from politics.
Sen. Maria T. Pangelinan, D-Saipan, and Rep. David M. Apatang, R-Saipan, are also not seeking re-election.
Mendiola, a father of nine, said he still wants to serve the public but his condition requires that he seek medical help first.
“I will seek my wellness but I’d still be there for the people,” he said.
The senator who is turning 61 on March 17 said he will endorse Vincent Calvo to be Rota’s new senator.
“Vincent Calvo, I believe, would do good for the people. I would definitely endorse him and ask our people to please give him the support so that we can move forward with our lives,” he told the Variety.
A retired military official, Mendiola topped the Rota senatorial elections in 2005.
He chaired the Fiscal Affairs Committee in the 15th Senate and became the Senate vice president and chairman of the Committees on Rules and Procedures and on Federal Relations and Independent Agencies in the 16th.
Highly regarded by the people of Rota, Mendiola said he believes in teamwork.
“I pride myself for having the best team in the Rota delegation. We work very well. I am a team player. As a good example, when I was the chairman of the Fiscal Affairs Committee, we did pass the budget,” he said.
He said it hurts him to see the elected leaders of the commonwealth spend time bickering instead of looking for ways to improve the people’s lives.
“People are just fighting instead of looking at the big picture. It hurts me that we cannot come together to better represent the people. But politics is politics,” he added.
