PM Says Julius Espat Got “Emotional” About Cousin Mike

Following the brief special sitting this afternoon, Prime Minister John Briceño spoke with reporters outside of the house.  While he continued to speak fondly of Mike Espat, the leader of the People’s United Party also touched briefly on comments made by the late politician’s first cousin.  During an interview last Thursday, Cayo South Area Representative Julius Espat was firm in his belief that the P.U.P. disrespected Mike Espat by allowing Chief Executive Officer, Doctor Osmond Martinez to essentially declare his candidacy in public.  Before we get to the PM’s response on that issue, here’s what he had to say about today’s parliamentary service.

 

Prime Minister John Briceño

“I think it’s the least we can do as a tribute and honor to the work of honorable Mike Espat because, as I’ve always been telling everybody, he was a man of service and service to the people.  And I repeated again, he started off as a teacher, a principal and then he went on to electoral politics with the belief that at that level he can be able to bring more development for the Toledo District.  Many people can’t comprehend where the Toledo District was in.  In 1989 when he was first elected and the tremendous work that he did, pushing for the Southern Highway, ensuring that we could put more infrastructure in the Toledo District, more schools and clinics and making opportunities available for the Toledo District.  He was the true embodiment of a man of service and he truly loves his people and the work that he does.”

 

Isani Cayetano

“How do you, in your capacity as party leader, look at or process the scathing remarks that were made by his first cousin, Julius Espat, he’s also a deputy leader of the PUP in terms of Mike [Espat] being hard done by his own party?”

 

Prime Minister John Briceño

“I think that Julius [Espat] probably got emotional when he was in front of the cameras and probably got carried away.  But pretty much everybody loved Mike Espat, everybody liked being with him.  Like I said, on the exterior, he looks like this tough person but he was a soft person, a person that can be kind and can be loving and can be gentle, but at the same time takes nothing from anybody and he would say what it is.”