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Governor shrugs off diatribes vs. Sablan
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Posted on Apr 13 1999
Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio yesterday defended Lt. Gov. Jesus R. Sablan against criticisms leveled by former Gov. Froilan C. Tenorio that he has failed to help the CNMI leader in solving woes confronting the Northern Marianas.
The ex-governor, who is eyeing a political comeback in the 2001 general elections, made the comments at the launching of his Reform Party, in what could be prelude to a series of attacks to potential rivals in preparation for the polls.
Froilan dismissed Sablan and Juan N. Babauta, CNMI’s representative to Washington, two Republicans who are expected to join the gubernatorial race, as political lightweight.
“I don’t see the Republicans turning this economy around. If Pepero knows what to do, he should do it now. Why wait until he becomes governor?” Froilan told reporters in an interview.
He made a similar pitch to Babauta, saying “Babauta is too remote from the local problems. He does not know what’s happening here.” Froilan also criticized the Commonwealth’s representative to Washington for his pro-federal takeover stance.
However, the incumbent leader set aside remarks of his nephew, whom he beat in the 1997 elections, throwing his full support to the lieutenant governor.
“I am confident that the lieutenant governor is doing his job,” the governor said, as he enumerated various tasks assigned to Sablan to help him carry out their mandate.
Tenorio said during his previous two terms he made sure that his lieutenant governor was part of “making a decision for the administration,” obviously comparing the strained ties that marked Froilan’s relationship with his former Lt. Gov. Jesus C. Borja.
Borja joined the three-way gubernatorial contest in the last elections as an independent candidate.
In a separate interview, Sablan, however, declined to comment on Froilan’s statement, saying it was still premature to talk about the elections.
“I hope the benefits will go to the people and the community,” Sablan said, referring to Froilan’s plan to challenge him in the elections. He did not elaborate.
Froilan quit the Democratic Party to form his own Reform Party, which he will use to reclaim the island leadership he held in 1994 to 1997.
