WHEREAS, the late Honorable Robert Ruecho’, former Speaker of the Legislature of the State of Yap, passed away on August 14, 2025 at the Yap Memorial Hospital in Yap, FSM; and

WHEREAS, the late Honorable Robert Ruecho’ was born on January 1, 1946 of Bugol Village in Tomil Municipality; and

WHEREAS, the late Honorable Robert Ruecho’ had served the government and the people of the State of Yap as a dedicated teacher, government employee, an elected official, a representative of Yap State and the FSM nation in various capacities, and an honored, distinguished statesman for more than four decades and continued to contribute in many ways to the State of Yap after his formal retirement; and

WHEREAS, the late Honorable Robert Ruecho began his career in 1974 as a teacher and worked in Education until he became elected to the Yap District Legislature in 1979; and

WHEREAS, the late Honorable Robert Ruecho’ had served in the Yap District Legislature and re-elected, upon ratification of the constitutional government, to the First Legislature of the State of Yap in 1981, and he continued to serve as a Senator in until he was appointed Speaker in the Fourth and Fifth Legislatures, spending almost thirty years of his career as a lawmaker and an articulate leader of the State of Yap; and

WHEREAS, the late Honorable Robert Ruecho’ was elected as Governor of the State of Yap in 2003, where he served the people through his Administration until 2006; and

WHEREAS, the late Honorable Robert Ruecho’ dedicated his life to the betterment of the State of Yap and earned the respect of the leaders and people of the State of Yap, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Micronesian region, and we will remember him for many years to come as a great leader who had made significant and durable contributions to the political, economic and social development of the State of Yap and whose vision, dedication and strength had provided invaluable guidance and gave a sense of security to the people of the State of Yap; and

WHEREAS, the members of the Eleventh Legislature honor, recognize and appreciate the many outstanding contributions of the late Honorable Robert Ruecho’, to the future of the State of Yap as an elected official, an outstanding statesman and a son of Yap; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Eleventh Legislature of the State of Yap, Third Regular Session, 2025, that the Legislature hereby expresses the deepest sympathy and condolences of the members of the Eleventh Legislature and the people of the State of Yap to the family, relatives, and friends of the late former Speaker and Governor, the Honorable Robert Ruecho’ for his untimely passing; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the family of the late Honorable Robert Ruecho; the Governor of the State of Yap; the Speaker of the Eleventh Yap State Legislature; the Chief Justice of the State Court of Yap; the Chairman of the Council of Pilung; and the Chairman of the Council of Tamol.