SAIPAN — Guam Governor Lourdes A. Leon Guerrero traveled to Saipan for Saturday’s state funeral for former CNMI Lt. Gov. Diego Tenorio Benavente, delivering remarks that highlighted his far-reaching influence beyond the Northern Marianas.
Leon Guerrero emphasized Benavente’s legacy extended throughout Micronesia, touching lives in Guam, the FSM, Palau and the Republic of the Marshall Islands through his regional leadership roles.
The governor focused her tribute on Benavente’s work advancing healthcare, education, housing, safety and family policies across the region through the Association of Pacific Island Legislators. She praised his political acumen and competence in driving meaningful policy changes that benefited Micronesian communities.
Leon Guerrero also spotlighted Benavente’s financial leadership at the Pacific Islands Development Bank, where she said his deliberations and debates during board meetings opened doors for countless families. She credited him with creating opportunities for people to start businesses, finance their children’s education and secure housing.
In a more personal reflection, Leon Guerrero recalled Benavente’s joyful spirit, recounting a party where she saw him dancing and speaking positively about life. She described him as someone who lived fully and demonstrated courage and bravery until the end.
The Guam governor presented a certificate of condolences to the Benavente family on behalf of Guam’s people, joined by the speaker of the Guam Legislature.
Leon Guerrero, Guam’s first female governor who has served since 2019, working alongside Benavente in regional economic development efforts before his passing.
FULL REMARKS BY GOV. LEON GUERRERO:
Hafa Adai, Buenas, and Tirow. It is a very sad day for the people of Guam, also for the people of the CNMI as we come to bid our final farewell to such a great man as Diego, many things have been said and all so true.
But Diego has contributed not just to the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas, he’s contributed a lot to Guam, to the FSM, to Palau, to the RMI, our region here in Micronesia. He has, with political mind, through the Association of the Pacific Island Legislators and through the Pacific Island Development Bank, with his mind, with his capacity, his competence, his intelligence, and his acumen lifted and made a difference in many of the lives of our Micronesian brothers and sisters. In policies with healthcare, in policies with education, in policies with housing, in policies with safety, in policies with family peace.
And his financial also contributions, where he has given, through his influential deliberations and debates during the PIDB meetings, given many, many of our people the opportunities to be successful in their businesses, the opportunities to send their children to go to school, the opportunities for housing for our people. This is the kind of man that I have known in Diego. And Diego also lives with laughter and joy and I was at his party and he was dancing, thinking many good things, talking many good things, and he has lived his life fully and certainly very courageous and brave.
So, on behalf of the people of Guam, I would like to say Un dankulu na Si Yu’us Ma’ase Diego. So it is with great sadness that we say our last farewell, but here we are together celebrating the new life of our fiend Diego up in heaven. I would like to present also and I would like to ask the speaker of our Guam legislature to join me in presenting the certificate of condolences presented to the family of Diego Tenorio Benevente.
