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Deputy Espat Says Party Leader Gave Him A Free Facebook Pass
posted (March 13, 2015)
PUP Deputy Leader Julius Espat is on the other side of the dispute. Right after the PUP met on Wednesday and spoke about moving forward in unity, he took to Facebook to blast John Briceno by calling him a liar. He also criticized his own party for treating this very public debacle a private party matter. So, who gave him the right to do so? No less than the leader - that's what we found out today:..

Mike Rudon, Ch5
"Sir, hours after you call for unity in the party, the Deputy Party Leader took the war to Facebook very publicly. Could I get a comment on that?"

Hon. Francis Fonseca, Leader of the Opposition
"I think the Deputy Party Leader... let me say this, that is one of the allegations made on the tape about him using monies given to him for Cayo South. I can categorically say that that is absolutely unfounded and untrue. Yes, he was serving as the national campaign manager, a co-manager, but the reality is that we had very limited resources and there is absolutely no question of him using the party's resources in Cayo South."

Hon. Julius Espat, Cayo South
"I requested from the Party Leader if I could speak on my own because he personally attacked me and he personally made it public and therefore the Party Leader gave me permission to defend myself, which I did."

Mike Rudon, Ch5
"You told him that you would post on Facebook?"

Hon. Julius Espat, Cayo South
"Where do I have to tell him where I would do it? Facebook is for medium. You have to understand the history of the relationship with John Briceno and I. I came into the People's United Party because of John Briceno. I served under him from 2009 until 2012. I was his most loyal soldier. I was his treasurer. So, he knows how I operate. He knows how accountable I am and that's why it was disappointing to me with what he said and I requested an apology from him in private and he hasn't given it to me and therefore I continue requesting an apology. To me it's over. Meaning I have made my statement, I stand for what I believe in and if he doesn't want to apologize, that's a manly decision of his part."

Jules Vasquez
"Should he be sanctioned by the PUP for the things he said about the party?"

Hon. Julius Espat, Cayo South
"Of course. I believe so."

Jules Vasquez
"Suspended?"

Hon. Julius Espat, Cayo South
"I don't know what level. But there should be discipline in our party and what he has done is against the principles of the People's United Party and he should be discipline - one way or the other."

Jules Vasquez
"Sir, you have asked for a sanctioned at that executive meeting, but only one person supported you. Why is that?"

Hon. Julius Espat, Cayo South
"There was not a vote. We were in discussion and I said if the Honorable John Briceno does not apologize for what he said to me and I was specific, therefore there should be disciplinary actions taken because how can I go to war with a man I don't trust anymore? If he apologizes to me, then it's over. We moved on. It's like you are having your marital problems and you apologize to your wife and you move on, but if you and your wife can't work it out, then that leads to a divorce. Its natural human nature and why are we running away from that fact?"

Jules Vasquez
"You are aggrieved about what he said specifically about your misrepresented. However, I don't hear you being as aggrieved about the extremely serious things he said about Mr. Musa and Mr. Fonseca and the Prime Minister discussed them in the House, but avoiding that they have been involved in some very....?"

Hon. Julius Espat, Cayo South
"But you have to understand Jules, these are the old players of the People's United Party."

Jules Vasquez
"You have always opposed."

Hon. Julius Espat, Cayo South
"John Briceno and Said Musa served at the same time. They are the ones that are dealing with that. I came in after the fact, so I am not part of that. I don't know what happened and I can't judge anybody. It's their position. It is them they are attacking and I believe they have all the right to defend themselves."

Jules Vasquez
"How do you move forward with this thing? Mr. Briceno has not retracted, has not distanced himself, he just said it wasn't meant for public."

Hon. Julius Espat, Cayo South
"I have a different opinion than most. I don't believe in living with facades of unity. I don't believe of going on stage and say boss I have your back. I believe in putting in the work and true unity and therefore what is happening right now I believe is healthy for the People's United Party. You see you can't put a band aid on a problem and expect that it will go away. You have to deal with the issues and I have dealt with mine and I am humbly requesting that the party deals with the issue. If we have a problem, we have to deal with it. We cannot play politics like UDP and PUP has been playing for so long, which is no worry about it, push it under the rug - it will blow over like a.... That is not the future that I believe we should have."

Jules Vasquez
"Two things are being band aided then, I am not sure of which you speak. Maybe what Mr. Briceno spoke about has been band aided and maybe what Mr. Briceno did has been band aided. Which band aid is the real problem?"

Hon. Julius Espat, Cayo South
"All of them are problems, because we have to deal with the issues."

One of the issues is the party's national convention - it is past due - and some are pushing an agenda of change. Later on, we'll have comment from all sides on that issue.

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