Hagåtña, Guam — Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero and Lt. Gov. Josh Tenorio are extending condolences to the people of the CNMI and the family of former CNMI Lieutenant Governor Diego Benavente, calling him a respected regional leader, longtime friend, and example of a life rooted in loyalty and kindness.
In a statement issued Thursday, Leon Guerrero said that on behalf of the people of Guam, she offers “our deepest condolences to the family of former Lieutenant Governor Diego Benavente and to the people of the CNMI,” noting that their paths crossed often through work, family, and a shared hope for a stronger Marianas. She said even in his hardest moments, Benavente chose to be present with the people he loved, “surrounded by the island that shaped him.”
“My heart is with his wife, Vicky, and the entire Benavente family as they honor a man whose life was rooted in loyalty, kindness, and a genuine devotion to his community,” Leon Guerrero said.
Lt. Gov. Tenorio said Benavente’s legacy lives on in the relationships he built and the “steady leadership he offered the CNMI.” He described him as someone who carried himself with sincerity and “an easy warmth that made people feel seen and heard,” and said his final months showed his character as he chose “family, faith, and the island he cherished,” reminding others what it means to live a full life.
“We extend our sympathy to the Benavente family and stand with the people of the CNMI as they remember a leader who gave so much of himself and did it with heart,” Tenorio said.
