Gov. Ralph DLG Torres said Friday that he respects Lt. Gov. Arnold I. Palacios\u2019 and Saipan Mayor David M. Apatang\u2019s decision to run as governor and lieutenant governor, respectively, in the November 2022 election.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wish them both luck,\u201d said Torres during his regular radio press briefing.<\/p>\n
He said he always respects Palacios and the office that he holds and that they will continue to work together for the betterment of the community.<\/p>\n
Torres had already announced his decision to seek re-election with Sen. Vinnie Vinson Sablan (R-Saipan) as his running mate under the NMI Republican Party. <\/p>\n
Asked if his relationship with Palacios will be affected after the latter\u2019s declaration to run against him, Torres said he has a role to do as the elected governor. \u201cI need to move forward and continue doing what I\u2019ve done in the beginning, prioritizing our community [and] trying to bring in investments for our economy. That has not changed,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Torres said the administration will continue to work and make the lives of the people in the CNMI better. \u201cSo my role and my dedication to the community, my obligation has not changed. And I\u2019ll continue to work even harder to make sure that we\u2019ll make our people\u2019s lives a lot better,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The governor said he has gone through this\u2014running for a seat in the House of Representatives, then the Senate, then as lieutenant governor, then as governor. Torres said he has always done his best, dedicating his energy to serve the people.<\/p>\n
He said his leadership has been tested numerous times, from super typhoons Soudelor and Yutu, to Typhoon Mangkhut and now the COVID-19 pandemic. <\/p>\n
The governor said he does not want to tell stories of the good things that he has done, but since he\u2019s being asked for example during this pandemic, people can look at all the videos.<\/p>\n
\u201cWho\u2019s been at the airport? Who\u2019s been at the alternate care site? Who\u2019s been every day out there, while others, either your elected officials or in what capacity that you hold?\u201d he asked. Torres said people don\u2019t see some of these elected officials \u201cwhen the tough gets going.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo my dedication to our community has not changed. My dedication to our community is to bring back a better life for everyone, bring back the economy and we\u2019ll continue to work,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Torres said his energy will always be there for the people and that his love for the people has only grown stronger.<\/p>\n
Asked for comment about Palacios\u2019 and Apatang\u2019s campaign slogan of \u201cRebuilding Trust,\u201d the governor said he respects their slogan. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe have an election to run and that\u2019s their slogan and I leave it for that at this point,\u201d Torres said.<\/p>\n
As for the three incumbent Republican lawmakers\u2019 presence during the Palacios-Apatang\u2019s official declaration to run, Torres said throughout his political career he\u2019s always been a Republican and that he\u2019s respects the decision of the three lawmakers.<\/p>\n
Reps. Blas Jonathan T. Attao, Ralph N. Yumul, and John Paul Sablan, all Republicans, attended Palacios-Apatang\u2019s official announcement.<\/p>\n
Torres said all have decisions in their lives to make. \u201cWe\u2019re all elected. We all have the integrity to hold. And that decision that they make has to be respected,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The governor said he never wavered on the Republican Party even when he was asked to run as lieutenant governor for the late Eloy S. Inos, who was a member of the Covenant Party at that time.<\/p>\n
\u201cI stayed as a Republican. Throughout my political career, I\u2019ve always been a Republican,\u201d said Torres, adding that he will continue to be a proud Republican. <\/p>\n
He said they will need to work together for the betterment for the community as there are a lot of issues that need to be addressed. The governor said he hopes that they can continue to work together as they are elected by the people.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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