“Obviously, this is a very regrettable development,” Press Secretary Charles P. Reyes Jr. said in an e-mail to the Variety.
He added, “I expect appropriate personnel policies will be implemented and enforced to ensure that such incidents will not occur again in the future.”
Asked about Peter Reyes’s use of controlled substance prior to his employment, the press secretary said: “I do not know whether the governor was aware of these allegations.”
According to the press secretary, “Pete Reyes was a [Department of Public Safety] employee hired by DPS and assigned to the governor’s office. He is no longer assigned to the governor’s office, and I believe he is no longer an employee of DPS or the CNMI government.”
Pete Reyes served the governor on a fixed salary and did not incur excessive overtime costs as a police officer assigned to the governor’s office normally would, the governor’s spokesman said.
“I believe that was an important factor in making the assignment because the governor was always concerned about controlling costs in view of budget reductions and the pressing need for prudent and conservative spending.”
He added, “The governor trusted Pete Reyes and is disappointed by this development, but at the same time he understands human frailties and that people do make mistakes.”
The press secretary said “Governor Fitial wishes his family well, and hopes this matter will be fairly and appropriately resolved for all parties.”
