Victor Hocog

Victor Hocog
Hocog as Lieutenant Governor
President of the Northern Mariana Islands Senate
In office January 14, 2019 – January 11, 2021
Preceded by	Arnold Palacios
Succeeded by	Jude Hofschneider
In office January 12, 2015 – December 29, 2015
Preceded by	Ralph Torres
Succeeded by	Frank Borja
11th Lieutenant Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands
In office December 29, 2015 – January 14, 2019
Governor	Ralph Torres
Preceded by	Ralph Torres
Succeeded by	Arnold Palacios
Personal details
Born	Victor Borja Hocog (1953-09-11) September 11, 1953 (age 71) Mariana Islands, Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands
Political party	Republican (2009–present)[1] Independent (before 2009)
Spouse	Villa Hocog

Victor Borja Hocog (born September 11, 1953)^[2] is a Northern Marianan politician. He served as the President of the Northern Mariana Islands Senate from January 14, 2019 to January 11, 2021, and previously from January 12, 2015 to December 29, 2015. He also served as the 11th Lieutenant Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands from December 29, 2015 to January 14, 2019.

Hocog lives in Rota with his wife, Villa M. Hocog.^[3]

In 2013, the Northern Mariana Islands Superior Court found Hocog and his wife Villa liable for unpaid rent on a piece of land on Rota.^[3] The Hocogs had not paid rent since 2009.^[3] The Hocogs were order to $292,049 in overdue rent, interest, and attorney's costs.^[3]

Hocog unsuccessfully ran against Prudencio T. Manglona for mayor of Rota in November 1989.^[4] Hocog also ran for mayor of Rota in 2005^[2] and 2009.^[5]

In 2008, Hocog advocated in favor of a bill to require the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation to sell its power system for $250 million.^[6] The bill prohibited requests for proposal in the procurement process in order to prevent protests.^[6] Governor Benigno Fitial vetoed the bill, saying it could lead to higher utility rates because the private company that would buy the power system would recover its selling cost by passing them on to utility consumers.^[6] Hocog was one of many in the House of Representatives who successfully overrode the governor's veto.^[6]

In 2008, Hocog supported a bill that would allow certain foreign workers to apply for a resident foreign national entry permit.^[7] The bill would make a foreign worker eligible if the individual had lived legally in the Northern Marianas Islands for at least five years and has good character.^[7]

In 2009, Hocog introduced a bill to establish a set of procedures to seize land from private individuals in order to build a public highway.^[8]

Hocog supported a bill to legalize casino gaming in Saipan in 2012.^[9] The bill did not advance past the Senate.^[9]

In 2015, Hocog sponsored a bill to establish the crime of electronic impersonation.^[10] The bill would make it a crime to hack someone's profile on the internet or to create a fake profile on the internet with the intent to harm, intimidate, or attack other people.^[10]

He rejoined the Senate in the 2018 general election. He did not run for reelection in 2022.^[11] The election for Rota's two senate seats was won by Dennis James Camacho Mendiola, a special assistant for Department of Homeland Security and Donald Manalang Manglona, a member of the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives. ^[12]

Incumbent Governor Eloy Inos died of complications after open heart surgery on December 28, 2015.^[13][14] In accordance with the Constitution of the Northern Mariana Islands, Lieutenant Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands Ralph Torres became the Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands and Hocog became lieutenant governor.^[15] Hocog was sworn in as lieutenant governor on December 29, 2015.^[15] Hocog announced in November 2017 that he would not seek re-election in 2018, and would instead seek to return to the Senate.^[16]

• Lieutenant Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands