Fitial extends personal leave in PH

Gov. Benigno R. Fitial, who was initially expected to be back in the CNMI Wednesday or Thursday, has extended his personal leave until Sunday.

Because of the governor’s extended leave, Lt. Gov. Eloy S. Inos remains as acting governor at least until Sunday.

Press secretary Angel Demapan said yesterday that the governor and first lady Josie Fitial are in the Philippines “tending to a family friend undergoing medical treatment.”

“At the same time, they are visiting with family members there,” Demapan told Saipan Tribune.

The governor and his wife left Saipan on Sunday night, and would be gone for a total of one week.

Since Fitial’s personal leave, the acting governor vetoed the controversial bill suspending the educational tax credit program during periods of government austerity but has pushed for reform of the program, as well as signed into local laws an over $3-million poker revenue bill for Saipan and $8,000 for Tinian’s medical referral and other patients.