Pinoys in Australia resent ‘Filipino-style massacre’ tag

The Filipino community in Sydney expressed resentment at claims the brutal murder of the Gonzales family in Sydney, Australia last week was likely a "Filipino-style" massacre.

To look into the claims, the government is planning to send a team of investigators to Sydney to gather information on the brutal murders of Filipino-Australian lawyer Ted Gonzales, his wife Mary Josephine and their daughter Claudine inside their home in North Ryde on July 10.

Vice President and Foreign Affairs Secretary Teofisto Guingona confirmed the plan after discussing the matter with Australian Ambassador John Buckley during a breakfast meeting yesterday.

"But there has to be a signal first from Australia," Guingona said, stressing the government does not want to be perceived as "meddling" in a police matter involving Australian nationals on Australian territory.

"We have to respect their authorities especially since the victims are naturalized Australian citizens although their roots are in the Philippines," Guingona said.

He suggested perhaps it would be better to send the team to the Middle East to help Philippine nationals detained in Arab jails.

The Foreign Office was also careful not to offend Australian authorities and stressed Manila trusts the ability of the New South Wales police which has been very professional in handling the case.

DFA consular affairs chief Antonio Curameng said the team may consist of experts from Philippine law enforcement agencies, like the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Philippine National Police (PNP).

The team is expected to "satisfy the hunger for news" on developments on the murders, Curameng said.

"It doesn’t mean we don’t have trust on their ability to conduct an impartial investigation. For all free men in the world, it’s the business of all peace-loving citizens to fight against crime like this," Curameng stressed.

Curameng also defended the Philippine consulate in Sydney which has been accused of "inefficiency resulting in the hunger for news" on the murder case.

He said the DFA hatched the plan after the Filipino community in Sydney expressed doubt that the murders were motivated by racial hatred.

Filipino-Australian lawyer Bernie David, a friend of Gonzales, said the crime was likely an act of vengeance by another Filipino with whom Gonzales had a dispute involving millions of dollars.

David said Gonzales had a heated exchange over the phone with an unidentified Filipino businessman in connection with a property deal, amounting to $20 million to $30 million, a month before the slaying.

David said Gonzales had received threats and was very emotional over the property deal.

Gonzales, who brought his family to Sydney from the Philippines in 1991, was a lawyer specializing in immigration law.

Sources said the Filipinos associated with Gonzales were often critical of the lawyer because of alleged overpricing in terms of rates. Clients were often disgruntled and had many complaints, sources said.

Gonzales, 46, was found stabbed to death in the hallway by his son Sef, 20, who returned to the family’s home in the suburb of North Ryde before midnight July 10.

The mother, Mary Josephine Loiva, 43, was found by the son in the living room of the two-story home and 18-year-old sister Claudine in an upstairs bedroom with their throats cut.

Sources close to the police investigation said a racial slur was daubed on a wall close to one of the bodies but detectives still have not established a motive for the killings.

Australian police are now looking closely into the three hours between 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., which they believe hold the key to the brutal murders.

A clipping of The Australian newspaper sent to the DFA indicated that some time during the said period, "all four family members were together in their home."

"The wife probably arrived home after 6 p.m. and would most likely have been met by daughter Claudine, who was visiting from her boarding school for the semester break ... Teddy Gonzales left his Blacktown office for the drive home, which could take up to 60 minutes, about the same time his wife would be arriving home," the article, titled "Vital hours in murder hunt," said.

Investigators believe Mr. Gonzales was slain after he disturbed the killers of his wife and daughter. According to the story, police said Sef left for a night on the town about 8 p.m. and arrived home about 11:45 p.m.