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Senate president is acting governor starting tomorrow
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Posted on Nov 10 2006
Senate President Joseph Mendiola will take over as acting governor when he returns to the Commonwealth Sunday.
Senate Floor Leader Felix Mendiola has served as acting governor since Thursday, as the governor, lieutenant governor, Senate president, and Senate vice president are all off island.
Gov. Benigno R. Fitial has been on medical leave since Oct. 4, 2006. He underwent back surgery on Oct. 31 at the UCLA Medical Center. He is now recuperating in California and is not expected back in the Commonwealth until December.
Lt. Gov. Timothy P. Villagomez, who has been acting governor since Fitial left, flew to Hawaii Thursday to attend an investment conference sponsored by the U.S. Department of the Interior. The federal agency’s third Conference on Business Opportunities in the Islands will be held on Nov. 13-14, 2006 at the Waikiki Marriott in Honolulu.
Mendiola is reportedly left for Manila initially and then headed for Malaysia to meet with potential investors. He is expected to return this weekend.
Senate Vice President Pete P. Reyes traveled to Hawaii with the lieutenant governor.
“I will be out of the Commonwealth on an official trip beginning Nov. 9, 2006 through Nov. 16, 2006. Therefore, on Nov. 9 through 11, acting Senate President Felix T. Mendiola will be acting governor. From Nov. 12 through the 16th, Senate President Joseph M. Mendiola will be acting governor during my absence,” Villagomez said in a Nov. 8, 2006 memorandum.
