NGERULMUD, Palau — Members of Palau’s National Congress, both the House of Delegates and the Senate, expressed their heartfelt condolences to the family of the late Governor Arnold Indalecio Palacios and the people of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) in a joint resolution passed on July 31.
House Joint Resolution No. 12-11-3, adopted during the Third Regular Session of the Twelfth Olbiil Era Kelulau, honors and commemorates the life, service, and enduring legacy of Governor Palacios, who passed away unexpectedly on July 23, 2025, at the age of 69.
“Governor Palacios devoted his life to public service,” the resolution stated, recounting his distinguished career from his early role as Director of Fish and Wildlife in the 1990s to his leadership as Secretary of Lands and Natural Resources, Speaker of the CNMI House of Representatives, and Senate President.
Governor Palacios served as the 12th Lieutenant Governor of the CNMI from 2019 to 2023 and made history in 2022 when he was elected the 10th Governor as the first independent candidate to hold the post. He was sworn in on January 9, 2023.
Throughout his career, Governor Palacios was known for championing initiatives on natural resource protection, land use planning, economic development, and federal relations, including key labor and immigration discussions under Section 902 consultations with the U.S. government.
“He will be remembered as a devoted husband, father, and statesman who served his people with humility, vision, and unwavering dedication,” the resolution read.
Palau’s National Congress emphasized the close cultural and historical ties between Palau and the CNMI, extending “its deepest and heartfelt sympathies to the Palacios family and the people of the CNMI during this time of mourning.”
Certified copies of the resolution were transmitted to CNMI Governor Arnold I. Apatang, the Palacios family, Palau President Surangel S. Whipps Jr., House Speaker Gibson Kanai, and Senate President Hokkons Baules.