Saipan — Lieutenant Governor Dennis C. Mendiola, who was serving as acting governor during Governor David M. Apatang’s off-island absence, sat down with NMI News Service on Wednesday and offered his first extended public explanation for the removals of Epiphanio “Epi” Cabrera and former Department of Public Safety Commissioner Anthony Macaranas, saying the decisions were driven by complaints, unresolved issues, and leadership concerns.
Mendiola said the concerns had been building over time and that, in his view, action was necessary while he was temporarily exercising the authority of the office. He said cabinet officials serve at the pleasure of the governor and described the firings as a leadership decision made after repeated issues were brought to his attention.
The interview came after a week of public questions surrounding the back-to-back firings, which were made while Governor David M. Apatang was off-island and Mendiola was serving in the acting role. Earlier in the week, Mendiola had said a statement would be issued, but no written statement was released before the interview took place.
Mendiola said he had not been avoiding the issue, but had been dealing with a packed schedule while covering for Apatang. He said he had been in meetings nearly every hour and described it as a long and difficult week.
Asked why he made the firings, Mendiola said concerns had been surfacing since he became lieutenant governor. He pointed to complaints from personnel, concerns raised by victims’ families, crime issues, overwork, and manpower shortages, saying those matters had been coming into his office and that he ultimately chose to make what he called a decisive decision.
Mendiola also said he did not consult Apatang before making the moves. He said he made the decisions on his own while serving as acting governor and acknowledged he would need to brief the governor after his return.
He said he expected Apatang to be unhappy about the firings. Mendiola said the governor did not know about them in advance and that he intended to explain what happened and why he made the decisions. He also said Apatang had previously indicated he believed the problems could be fixed without removing the officials, while Mendiola said he did not share that view.
At the same time, Mendiola said he and Apatang have generally had a good working relationship. He said that while the two were not originally elected as a chosen tandem, this may be the first decision that creates friction between them.
On Macaranas specifically, Mendiola said he viewed the former commissioner as a strong police officer, but argued that being a department leader requires more than day-to-day operational work. He said leadership requires innovation, creativity, and the ability to produce results even in the absence of resources, and said that distinction helped shape his decision.
Mendiola also said he is not trying to dictate who will permanently lead DPS. He said Aniceto Ogumoro is serving in an acting capacity and that he intends to respect the governor’s authority on any permanent appointment.
He further addressed speculation that the firings may have been tied to his own legal case, rejecting that claim. Mendiola said the decisions had nothing to do with his court matter and instead were meant to show active leadership and demonstrate that the administration was still taking action.
Watch the full interview on the NMI News Service Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
