‘GOP is perpetrator of dirty politics’

The Covenant Party lashed back at the Republican Party, saying that the ruling party is the “real perpetrator” of dirty political tricks in connection with the 2005 election campaign.

Charles Reyes, the Covenant Party’s advertising committee chair, said the GOP is engaging in political retaliation against government employees supporting opposition candidates.

Reyes cited the termination of Jesus Muna as the Commerce Department’s Alcohol Beverage and Tobacco Control Division director. Muna has joined the Covenant Party and is running for congressman for Precinct 1.

“The Republicans fired Jesus Muna for joining the Covenant Party, and they have also reportedly threatened ‘disloyal’ government employees with job termination for supporting rival candidates,” Reyes said.

Reyes also accused the GOP of possible violation of Public Law 12-18, saying that the party has political advertisements without proper attribution as to their donors. “They paid for political attack ads using non-existent organizations, such as ‘Concerned Citizens’ or ‘Citizens for Strong Leadership,’ without clearly identifying the real sponsors of the ads, as required by law.”

Public Auditor Mike Sablan has protested a GOP ad and has demanded a public apology from the Republican Party, according to Reyes. That ad showed government employees, including OPA staff, at an official government function. Being a political ad, it falsely depicted that that those government employees were endorsing GOP candidates, Reyes said.

Reyes also accused the GOP of disseminating false information, such as the support of Felix Fitial, brother of Covenant Party’s gubernatorial candidate, Benigno Fitial, when the purported GOP supporter actually supports Fitial and partymates.

Reyes also belied an earlier Republican Party statement that Vincent Calvo of Rota’s Covenant Party has defected to the GOP camp, saying that Calvo recently spoke at a Covenant rally in Koblerville.

Reyes said the GOP had also falsely claimed that former Sen. David Cing was supporting it when the ex-lawmaker was actually supporting an independent gubernatorial ticket.

“The Republican Party doctored a sample ballot to falsely portray Covenant Mayor Juan Borja Tudela as a Democrat, forcing Mayor Tudela to file a formal protest with the Commonwealth Election Commission,” Reyes said. (John Ravelo)