Ed Manibusan | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Attorney General of the Northern Mariana Islands | |
| Assumed office January 12, 2015 | |
| Governor | |
| Preceded by | Gilbert Birnbrich |
| In office July 1, 1989 – January 8, 1990 | |
| Governor | Pedro Tenorio |
| Preceded by | Alexandro Castro |
| Succeeded by | Robert Naraja |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1952 or 1953 (age 71–72) |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Delfina[1] |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | University of Guam California State University (BA) Gonzaga University (JD) |
Edward Eladio Manibusan (born 1952/1953)[2] is a Northern Marianan attorney and politician serving as the first electedAttorney General of the Northern Mariana Islands. He took office on January 12, 2015. He previously served in the position from July 1, 1989 to January 8, 1990 when it was a gubernatorial appointment.
He graduated fromMarianas High School in 1972.[3] He attended theUniversity of Guam from 1972 to 1975 where he earned an associate's degree in political science.[4] Manibusan graduated fromCalifornia State University at Fullerton with aBachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Law in 1977. He then attendedGonzaga University School of Law and graduated in 1982.[2]
After graduating law school, Manibusan became a public defender. One year later, he was made an assistant attorney general assigned to the criminal division.[2] In 1986, GovernorPedro Pangelinan Tenorio appointed Manibusan, the Director of theDepartment of Public Safety. Manibusan was sworn in as DPS director on November 14, 1986.[5]
He was the appointed Attorney General from 1989 to 1990. He was an Associate Judge of theSuperior Court of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands from February 1993 to July 1998,[6] the Presiding Judge of the NMI Superior Court from July 1998 to March 2003,[6] and an attorney in solo private practice. Prior to the election he also held an honorary appointment as the Civilian Aide to theUnited States Secretary of the Army for the CNMI.[7]
In 1998, JudgeProcter Ralph Hug Jr. of theU.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit appointed Manibusan to hold district court in theDistrict of the Northern Mariana Islands during the period beginning Jan. 26, 1998 and ending December 31, 1998.[8]
Manibusan retired from active government service on March 14, 2003.[1] In 2012, he became the chairman of the reorganizedDemocratic Party of the Northern Mariana Islands.[9] In that capacity he worked to rebuild ties with theDemocratic National Committee, achieving such recognition at the2012 Democratic National Convention.[10] He also sought to ensure the party ran a gubernatorial candidate in the2014 election, after it failed to do so in 2009.[11] He was succeeded as party chairman by Benjamin M. Cepeda.[12]
The Attorney General, previously an appointed position, became an elected position effective for the2014 general election.[13] Manibusan was elected in 2014, defeating attorney Michael Evangelista by about a two to one margin.[14] Manibusan succeededGilbert Birnbrich, who was appointed by GovernorEloy Inos five months before the election.[13] He was reelected in 2018, without opposition.[15] In 2022, Manibusan defeated former judge Juan Tudela Lizama by approximately ten points to be reelected Attorney General.[16]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonpartisan | Edward Manibusan | 8,599 | 64.99% | |
| Nonpartisan | Michael Norita Evangelista | 4,672 | 31.31% | |
| Total votes | 13,231 | 100.00% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonpartisan | Edward Manibusan (incumbent) | 11,366 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 11,366 | 100.00% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonpartisan | Edward Manibusan (incumbent) | 7,524 | 55.17% | |
| Nonpartisan | Juan Tudela Lizama | 6,113 | 44.83% | |
| Total votes | 13,637 | 100.00% | ||
| Legal offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Alexandro Castro | 6thAttorney General of the Northern Mariana Islands Acting 1989–1990 | Succeeded by Robert Naraja |
| Preceded by | 24thAttorney General of the Northern Mariana Islands 2015–present | Incumbent |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by Party reestablished | Chair of theNorthern Mariana Islands Democratic Party 2012–2014 | Succeeded by Benjamin M. Cepeda |
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