Victor Borja Hocog (born September 11, 1953)[2] is a Northern Marianan politician. He served as the President of the Northern Mariana Islands Senate from January 14, 2019 to January 11, 2021, and previously from January 12, 2015 to December 29, 2015. He also served as the 11th Lieutenant Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands from December 29, 2015 to January 14, 2019.
Victor Hocog | |
|---|---|
 Hocog as Lieutenant Governor | |
| President of the Northern Mariana Islands Senate | |
| In office January 14, 2019 – January 11, 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Arnold Palacios |
| Succeeded by | Jude Hofschneider |
| In office January 12, 2015 – December 29, 2015 | |
| Preceded by | Ralph Torres |
| Succeeded by | Frank Borja |
| 11th Lieutenant Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands | |
| In office December 29, 2015 – January 14, 2019 | |
| Governor | Ralph Torres |
| Preceded by | Ralph Torres |
| Succeeded by | Arnold Palacios |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Victor Borja Hocog September 11, 1953 Mariana Islands, Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands |
| Political party | Republican (2009–present)[1] Independent (before 2009) |
| Spouse | Villa Hocog |
Background and personal life
editHocog lives in Rota with his wife, Villa M. Hocog.[3]
In 2013, the Northern Mariana Islands Superior Court found Hocog and his wife Villa liable for unpaid rent on a piece of land on Rota.[3] The Hocogs had not paid rent since 2009.[3] The Hocogs were order to $292,049 in overdue rent, interest, and attorney's costs.[3]
Political career
editHocog unsuccessfully ran against Prudencio T. Manglona for mayor of Rota in November 1989.[4] Hocog also ran for mayor of Rota in 2005[2] and 2009.[5]
Commonwealth Legislature
editIn 2008, Hocog advocated in favor of a bill to require the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation to sell its power system for $250 million.[6] The bill prohibited requests for proposal in the procurement process in order to prevent protests.[6] Governor Benigno Fitial vetoed the bill, saying it could lead to higher utility rates because the private company that would buy the power system would recover its selling cost by passing them on to utility consumers.[6] Hocog was one of many in the House of Representatives who successfully overrode the governor's veto.[6]
In 2008, Hocog supported a bill that would allow certain foreign workers to apply for a resident foreign national entry permit.[7] The bill would make a foreign worker eligible if the individual had lived legally in the Northern Marianas Islands for at least five years and has good character.[7]
In 2009, Hocog introduced a bill to establish a set of procedures to seize land from private individuals in order to build a public highway.[8]
Hocog supported a bill to legalize casino gaming in Saipan in 2012.[9] The bill did not advance past the Senate.[9]
In 2015, Hocog sponsored a bill to establish the crime of electronic impersonation.[10] The bill would make it a crime to hack someone's profile on the internet or to create a fake profile on the internet with the intent to harm, intimidate, or attack other people.[10]
He rejoined the Senate in the 2018 general election. He did not run for reelection in 2022.[11] The election for Rota's two senate seats was won by Dennis James Camacho Mendiola, a special assistant for Department of Homeland Security and Donald Manalang Manglona, a member of the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives. [12]
Lieutenant governor
editIncumbent Governor Eloy Inos died of complications after open heart surgery on December 28, 2015.[13][14] In accordance with the Constitution of the Northern Mariana Islands, Lieutenant Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands Ralph Torres became the Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands and Hocog became lieutenant governor.[15] Hocog was sworn in as lieutenant governor on December 29, 2015.[15] Hocog announced in November 2017 that he would not seek re-election in 2018, and would instead seek to return to the Senate.[16]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Erediano, Emmanuel T. "Hocog to run for Rota Mayor". Marianas Variety. May 11, 2009.
- ^ a b "Covenant dominates mayoralty races". Saipan Tribune. November 20, 2005.
- ^ a b c d De La Torre, Ferdie. "Hocog couple found liable to pay CDA $292K". Saipan Tribune. November 21, 2013.
- ^ Jaffe, Mark. "Politics and money threaten to spoil idyllic Pacific island". Knight-Ridder Newspapers. The Toronto Star. March 31, 1990.
- ^ Hocog, Victor. "To the People of Rota". Hocog for Mayor. 2009.
- ^ a b c d "Northern Marianas Island: CUC for sale for $250 million". TendersInfo (Mumbai, India). Saturday, October 4, 2008.
- ^ a b Eugenio, Haidee V. "Pinoys in CNMI to benefit from new immigration bill". GMANews. April 23, 2008.
- ^ "CNMI has no manual for acquiring private lands for public use". TendersInfo (Mumbai, India). May 13, 2009.
- ^ a b Garlitos, Kirby. "Senate Drops Saipan Casino Bill". CalvinAyre.com. April 24, 2012.
- ^ De La Torre, Ferdie (August 19, 2022). "Hocog wants 'to give chance to the younger generation'". Saipan Tribune. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
- ^ "2022 Official General Election and Run-Off Results". Commonwealth Election Commission. 2022-11-11. Retrieved 2023-06-04.
- ^ Rabago, Mark (29 December 2015). "Gov. Eloy Inos Passes Away". Saipan Tribune. Retrieved 29 December 2015.
- ^ Manglona, Thomas (29 December 2015). "CNMI Governor Eloy Inos Dies". Pacific News Center. Retrieved 28 December 2015.
- ^ a b "New governor, lt. governor sworn in". Marianas Variety. December 29, 2015.
- ^ Villahermosa, Cherrie (November 9, 2017). "Hocog to run for Senate". Marianas Variety. Retrieved April 1, 2018.