Julius Espat Sues for Damages Two and a Half Years Later

Julius Espat

According to Espat, he is seeking redress in the form of compensation for the length of time that he was suspended from the House without pay. Primarily, he wants it placed on record that the decision to oust him from parliament was unconstitutional.

Isani Cayetano

“What remedies are you seeking or would you be seeking now before the Supreme Court as a result of what has happened?”

Julius Espat, Area Representative, Cayo South

“One: We want to make sure that the decision that was done was erroneous.  So that is setting a precedence that even if you are the leader of a country, as in the case of the prime minister or if you are the speaker of the house within parliament you are also to abide by the rule of law.  That is one. Two: That I be paid back what was taken away from me.  My salary was deducted for a large period of time and any other claim that we might decide.  We haven’t decided on that as yet.  But the most important, above all, is to set the rule of law in place.  And it can’t be done by means of rhetoric.  P.U.P. say or U.D.P. say… That, in the eyes of the people, becomes insignificant and so now we are relying on the third branch of government which is the judiciary, to set precedent as to what is right and what is wrong and for it to not happen again.”