Youngest senator is acting Senate prexy

A rookie senator from Tinian was appointed to serve as acting Senate president in the absence of the four top Senate officials.

Republican Sen. Jude Hofschneider, the youngest member of the Upper House, has assumed the post of acting Senate president since Friday, Nov. 9, 2006.

Senate president Joseph Mendiola was in Malaysia, while Senate vice president Pete P. Reyes and legislative secretary Maria Frica Pangelinan both left for Hawaii to attend the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Conference on Business Opportunities in the Islands. Senate Floor Leader Felix T. Mendiola was serving as acting governor.

But Hofschneider is expected to be relieved of his temporary duties today.

Senate President Joseph Mendiola is expected back in the Commonwealth and he will be the acting governor until Villagomez returns on Friday, Nov. 17, 2006.

For his part, Floor Leader Felix T. Mendiola will resume his responsibilities as acting Senate president. [I][B](Agnes E. Donato)
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