Overview:
The Senate is calling on President Surangel Whipps Jr. to act on a long-overdue appointment — the Public Auditor’s seat, which has remained vacant since 2019. In a formal letter, Senate President Hokkons Baules reminded the President of his constitutional duty, citing Palau’s laws that require a timely appointment to ensure government accountability and transparency.
By: Eoghan Olkeriil Ngirudelsang
KOROR, Palau — The Senate is urging President Surangel Whipps Jr. to fulfill his constitutional duty to appoint a new Public Auditor, emphasizing that the position has remained vacant since 2019.
In an Oct. 14 letter to President Whipps, Senate President Hokkons Baules wrote, “I am writing to you today on behalf of the Senate of the Republic to urge you to execute your constitutional duty and appoint a Public Auditor.”
Baules noted that under Article XII, Section 2 of Palau’s Constitution, the President is required to appoint a Public Auditor. He pointed out that no appointment has been made since the expiration of Satrunino Tewid’s term in 2019.
While Tewid continues to serve as Acting Public Auditor — a role he was appointed to by the late Chief Justice Arthur Ngiraklsong — Baules said Senate precedent establishes that the President’s duty to appoint is mandatory. He cited The Senate v. Remeliik, in which the first Chief Justice ruled that the appointment “must be done within one year of vacancy.”
The Public Auditor’s office is one of the most protected institutions in Palau’s government. Article XII of the Constitution establishes the office’s six-year term and outlines a unique appointment process requiring confirmation by both houses of the Olbiil Era Kelulau (OEK) — unlike other presidential appointees, such as ministers and ambassadors, who require only Senate consent.
The Constitution also ensures the office’s independence, stating that the Public Auditor may be removed only by a two-thirds vote of both houses of the OEK. In the event of a vacancy, the Chief Justice may appoint an Acting Public Auditor until a new one is confirmed.
Tewid, who currently serves in an acting capacity, has held the post for much of the past two decades. He first served as Public Auditor from 1999 to 2005, was appointed Acting Public Auditor from 2005 to April 2013, and was then reappointed and unanimously confirmed for a second six-year term in 2013. His term expired in 2019, and he has continued to serve in an acting capacity since then.
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