Murdered family laid to rest

BAGUIO CITY — Relatives and friends of the Filipino-Australian family that was brutally murdered in Sydney, Australia offered candles and prayers as slain lawyer Teodoro Gonzales, his wife Loiva and their daughter Clodine were laid to rest in Sydney.

The interment was attended by Sef Gonzales, 20, the sole survivor of the murders that remained a mystery to Australian police.

Meanwhile, relatives and friends of the Gonzales family yesterday expressed resentment that Teodoro, an immigration solicitor, was portrayed to have a bad reputation in Sydney.

Teodoro’s brother-in-law Erlindo Tesoro deplored as "irresponsible and inaccurate" a television news report that showed another Filipino-Australian solicitor Bernie David saying Teodoro had a "bad reputation" among Filipinos in Sydney.

"I think (broadcast journalist Korina Sanchez of ABS-CBN) should have exercised her professionalism in dealing with her informant. What if that lawyer had a grudge against Teddy?" Tesoro said.

"If you don’t know who Teddy really is, then you may be swayed to believe how he was portrayed in that interview," he said, adding that Teddy’s relatives and friends resented the television report.

Tesoro said the Gonzales family respected Sef’s decision not to have his father’s remains cremated, instead interring his father, mother and sister in Australia.

"It was a decision of Sef, Frederick (Teddy’s brother) and Annie (Teddy’s sister and Tesoro’s wife), so we respect it. It was also good so the issue would also be laid to rest," Tesoro said.

The Baguio City council has passed a resolution, authored by Baguio City Vice Mayor Lourdes Tabanda, extending condolences to the Gonzales and Claridades families. Claridades is Loiva’s maiden name.

Teddy, his wife and daughter were found murdered inside their home in North Ryde, Sydney on July 10.

David, a friend of the slain lawyer, 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 solicitor 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 Sef, who returned to the family’s home in the suburb of North Ryde before midnight July 10.

Loiva, 43, was found in the living room of the two-story home and 18-year-old Clodine 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 murders.