Gov. Arnold I. Palacios leaves legacy of public service

07/24/2025 - Gov. Arnold Indalecio Palacios passed away at the age of 69 late Wednesday night after a medical incident led him to collapse in his office on Capitol Hill on Saipan. He was immediately rushed to the Commonwealth Health Center and later was medically evacuated by a military helicopter to the Guam Regional Medical Center in Guam.

In a social media message post, Communications & Policy advisor to the Governor, John Oliver Gonzales, confirmed that Palacios passed away around 10:37 on July 23, 2025. 

“I just got the sad news that Gov. Palacios passed away a few minutes ago,” he said.  His cause of death has not been disclosed. 

Palacios, the 10th governor of the CNMI, rose to the executive seat rooted in a legacy of public service and with the promise to rebuild trust in leadership. 

He served alongside Lt. Gov. David M. Apatang since January 2023. Apatang now becomes governor with Senate President Dennis C. Mendiola taking over as lieutenant governor. Both are scheduled to be sworn in by Supreme Court Chief Judge Alexandro C. Castro tomorrow morning.

Palacios had a long political career even before being elected governor in 2023. He previously served as the 12th lieutenant governor of the Commonwealth, serving alongside Gov. Ralph DLG Torres from January 2019 to January 2023. 

As lieutenant governor, he oversaw the Office of Planning and Development, the Office of Grants Management, and the CNMI’s permitting agencies and led policy initiatives on government efficiency, business permitting processes, and regulatory functions. He also played an active role in the CNMI’s relationship with the Federal Government with discussions on labor viability and proposed military projects in the Marianas.

Palacios also served as the Senate president during the 20th CNMI Legislature from January 2017 to January 2019 and as Senate vice president during the 19th CNMI Legislature from January 2015 to January 2017. He has served four terms in the House of Representatives and served as speaker of the House of Representatives during the 16th CNMI Legislature from January 2008 to January 2010. He also served as the Secretary of Lands and Natural Resources from February 2012 to January 2015.

During his time in the Legislature, he championed legislation and policies on natural resources, environmental conservation, economic development, and federal relations. He was a member of the Governor’s Section 902 Consultation team in 2016, when he helped articulate the CNMI’s position on labor, immigration, and US military buildup proposals. As Senate president, he created the Office of Planning and Development, which establishes development objectives, standards, and principles for the CNMI’s desired land use for residential, recreational, agricultural, commercial, and industrial needs.

Born on Aug. 22, 1955, on Saipan, Palacios attended Mt. Carmel School. He then enrolled at Portland State University in Oregon, where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration/Management.

Report by Thomas Manglona II and Mark Rabago