On the heels of the Fitial Administration's plan to officially shut down the Marianas Hawaii Liaison Office, Gov. Benigno R. Fitial pulled the plug on his appointed Liaison Officer, Engracia R. Babauta. The governor has reportedly recalled the former liaison officer to Saipan for reassignment. However, it has been rumored that since her return to Saipan, she has had a shaky relationship with this administration.

Because of this, Fitial has tapped the services of the current Medical Referral Coordinator, Angel A. Demapan, to serve as the Acting Liaison Officer and to lead the final phase of the MHLO's closure. 

The governor, in a July 5, 2006 memorandum, appointed Demapan as Acting Liaison Officer from July 1 through July 31. Subsequently, on August 1, 2006, Demapan will be the Medical Referral Coordinator for the new Medical Referral Office in Honolulu.

It has been reported that the Guam liaison office will go through the same process as well. The closure of the CNMI's off-island offices comes amidst the government's cost-cutting efforts to reduce government expenditure.