Tenorio weighs Aldan’s re-appointment to BPL

Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio yesterday backed the re-appointment of former Board of Public Lands chairman, Tomas B. Aldan, but expressed doubts whether his nomination will be approved by the Senate.

“He’s still a candidate,” the governor told reporters when asked about Aldan’s fate following his departure as chair of the policy-making body early this month.

Tenorio said he would meet with the bank executive first to find out about his plans “because one time he indicated that he might be running for office.”

Likewise, the local chief executive also has to weigh the sentiments of the members of the Senate before submitting his appointment for confirmation

Asked if the Senate will reject Aldan’s nomination, Tenorio said that “personally for me, I don’t see any problem but I don’t know. I can’t talk on behalf of the members of the Senate.”

Aldan, president and chief executive officer of Bank of Saipan, left BPL last June 4 after his two-year term expired. He was named to the post by former governor Froilan C. Tenorio.

He said in the past that he was open to occupying the post should the governor decides so.

But sources at the Capitol Hill said Tenorio is having second thoughts about re-appointing Aldan to the board, aware of the current differences between BPL and the Senate on the issue of granting lease extension to Rota Resort and Country Club.

Last month, the former BPL chief warned legislators against a plan to approve a 15-year extension on the existing land lease of the Japanese-owned resort, saying the move may compromise the government.

Members of the Senate as well as the House Natural Resources Committee are now reviewing the request by SNM Corporation.

But a strongly-worded letter fired by Aldan to the legislative panel to scuttle attempts to hastily approve the request has apparently irked some members, particularly some senators who are pushing for the extension, according to one source who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Aldan’s nomination was one of the issues discussed between Tenorio and some members of the Senate during an informal luncheon meeting last week, but there was no clear understanding whether he would be confirmed if his name is submitted by the governor.

The Senate has successfully blocked the appointment of acting Attorney General Maya B. Kara, who has remained in acting capacity since September last year when Tenorio withdrew her name at the last minute amid clear rejection by the members.