Col Rivera's response is published in the interest of providing him a voice regarding the accusations of LtCol Mark Calvo. Numerous attempts were provided him, beginning with this email invitation to appear on K57's Rlene"Live" show to discuss the situation.

Efforts to interview Rivera and Santo Tomas were pursued for 28 days to no avail. In every instance Rivera said that he could not discuss matters of personnel actions and turned down the opportunity to be interviewed.  On February 21st, President's Day, Rivera called and invited this writer for an interview at a restaurant to which this writer requested the interview be conducted in his office in the interest of recording the interview and not having to drag all the equipment around or deal with the noise associated with crowds.

Rivera agreed and set the time for 2 pm, on Wednesday, February 23rd after my show.

The interview never happened.

Surprised that this reporter brought a recording device [video camera] Santo Tomas refused to be interview on camera and suggested that this reporter take notes, or alternatively offered Rivera's administrative assistant [Rapadas] as note taker. This reporter insisted the interview be recorded and Santo Tomas under protest, deferred to Rivera for the final decision. Rivera agreed to an on-camera interview but Santo Tomas continued to resist and said he wanted to seek the advice of Col Riano before going further.  The Guard's Judge Advocate was summoned who defended Santo Tomas' position siting regulation which he provided later and said in effect that it was not advisable for any member of the military to be interviewed in uniform when providing personal opinion so as not to give the impression that the individual is speaking in behalf of the Military. Recognizing that Santo Tomas was not going to participate in the interview, Rivera changed his mind, on the basis that he was wearing a uniform and that his role as acting Adjutant General was somehow consistent with Riano's opinion not to be interviewed in uniform.

In the interest of preventing any misrepresentation of the interview, this reporter insisted on a on-camera interview so as to avoid the situation of a "He said - She said" conclusion, which I stated to both Rivera and Santo Tomas.

The interview never took place. This reporter was escorted out of the building by the Guard's Commander, 294th MI Det. and J-2, Intelligence Officer Capt. Esther Aguigui and handed over to a security officer when leaving the building who escorted me to the compound's gate.

The following discourse between this writer and Carmela Rapadas is related to a reaction from Col Jerry Rivera regarding the release of the Investigative Report on the Guam National Guard's Void in Leadership dated February 28, 2005.

Steffy's receipt to Rapadas.

-----Original Message-----
From: rlene@rlenelive.com
Sent: Wednesday, March 09, 2005 8:55 PM
To: Rapadas, Carmela S Mrs DMA GUAM
Subject: Re: Response to Void in Guam National Guard Leadership Article

Carmela,

Please tell Jerry that I have received his response. It's a shame he waited as long as he did to comment. He and Dennis were provided the first opportunity to address any issue that Mark Calvo raised, and they chose not to do so, over and over and over - until the report was filed.

I will be back next week.

I am on the south tip of New Zealand's south island and have little access with Internet. Just checking my mail today and on the road from dusk to dawn.

Rlene

Confirmation to Carmela Rapadas of time and date that message was displayed on Steffy's Computer.

        To:  Rlene@RleneLive.Com
        Subject: Response to Void in Guam National Guard Leadership Article
        Sent: Tue, March 8, 2005 7:15 pm

Was displayed on Wed, March 9, 2005 4:49 am

Hafa Adai, Rlene,

In response to your article on your web page, COL Jerry Rivera has written the attached response.

Regards,
Carmela