Email

Print

That's a request not to be taken lightly: Williams recently won the largest libel award in Belize's history when attorney Arthur Saldivar disparaged the Prime Minister's conduct and integrity. Now Cervantes has accused the Deputy Prime Minister of far worse…so what did Monchie have to say about it today? We went to his office at San Isidro Hardware in Orange Walk Town to ask if he'll apologize - and let's just say, we weren't too surprised at the answer:...

Jules Vasquez
"It demands that you make an unequivocal and full retraction. Will you do so today?"

Ramon "Monchie" Cervantes Jr.
"He also ask for an apology. No. I have nothing to apologize for and there is nothing for me to retract and so I won't apologize."

Jules Vasquez
"He has also indicated that if you don't do so, you will be sued for a very grave libel against his client."

Ramon "Monchie" Cervantes Jr.
"Well, let the process takes it course. The importance here is that my father was murdered and as time goes by events are unfolding, events are coming to light and Manuel Castillo called my house and there was a conversation and it was taped and we made the public know it."

Reporter
"Don't you think that retracting will save you some money? If you go through this to the courts you might lose because there is no way of verifying this and the ComPol was saying that they will have to investigate this, the voice of Manuel Castillo."

Ramon "Monchie" Cervantes Jr.
"We are sure that it's Manuel Castillo because he was a customer of our store. His family and us grew up together and retraction part - I didn't say anything. We played it in the interest of our security. Let's remember again, my father was murdered and in tape Manuel says that I was the intended victim, so I have to be concern over my life, over the life of my family above all in priority to any lawsuit."

Reporter
"Do you think it's irresponsible from your family's part to do it the say you did it; broadcasted live through national radio these allegations that you don't know if it's real and defaming the character of the DPM and also putting at risks the media houses that broadcast the event?"

Ramon "Monchie" Cervantes Jr.
"No sir, it's not irresponsible. On the contrary, this is a quest for truth. Again, it's my father that was murdered and police see to be dragging their feet or I don't know where the investigation is. They have close communication on us. With our broadcasting it live is something that happen in fact. Should we hide things from the public? I hope we are not getting to that stage where we start hiding things from the public. I don't want to hide anything from the public. If Manuel Castillo on that tape would have mentioned the name of an ordinary man, I think the police would have picked up that person to question him or her."

Reporter
"Do you truly the DPM was involved in this?"

Ramon "Monchie" Cervantes Jr.
"I know what I believe and clearly the facts have been speaking for themselves."

Jules Vasquez
"At some point be revealing what you contented you have is more evidence implicating the Deputy Prime Minister on a murder conspiracy?"

Ramon "Monchie" Cervantes Jr.
"Only time will tell Jules."