Fil-Canadian Balikbayan killed over property dispute?
What a tragic vacation for Fil-Canadian Ricardo Espinosa, 41, of Canoe Road, Coquitam, British Columbia in the Philippines beaten up and killed allegedly by his relatives over a property dispute.
This is so troubling and disturbing, on how this kind of incident has gone out of hand defies any logical explanation. It was reported that the victim Ricardo Espinosa wanted to sell his house located in Kamuning, Quezon City but his relatives who were staying in the property for 5 years without paying rent opposed it. The incident as reported by Nancy C. Carvajal of Inq7:
Nothing new here, this is a problem faced mostly by those with properties back in the old country but getting beaten up and killed is an indication of where the Philippines is headed. Non-payment of rent by relatives has always been a sore point between relatives and most of the time this is never discussed or avoided since it is a problem that embarrasses or a stain to the family name.
Most of the time Filipinos who migrated to the west are faced with this kind of problem on non-payment of rent especially when the renters, relatives or not knew that the owner of the property is out of the country. For one who will bother take them to a snail paced court system where it will cost more money in terms of loss income from the time spent trying to collect on delinquent renters? The obvious solution is to sell the property but it seems it is a high risk proposition so what recourse should absentee owners take to resolve their problem?
This is so troubling and disturbing, on how this kind of incident has gone out of hand defies any logical explanation. It was reported that the victim Ricardo Espinosa wanted to sell his house located in Kamuning, Quezon City but his relatives who were staying in the property for 5 years without paying rent opposed it. The incident as reported by Nancy C. Carvajal of Inq7:
On Saturday night, a group of men knocked on the gate of the house.The victims’ brother Mario Espinosa stated that he was five meters from his brother saw their relative Salito Espinosa shoot the victim 5 times in the neck and chest. Salito who was arrested at his residence in Guadalupe, Makati denies he shot the victim as he has no ill feeling or motive to kill the victim.
When the victim asked them what they wanted, the men told him that they were there to help his relatives pack up their things in preparation for moving out of the house.
Victim mauled
However, when he opened the gate, they ganged up on him and beat him up.
A few seconds later, a gunshot rang out.
Mario said that after his brother was shot, none of their relatives came out of the house to help them.
“No one among my relatives helped us. Some of them even left [the house] immediately,” he added.
Mabanag said investigators would question the 19 relatives who were inside the house when the shooting took place.
Nothing new here, this is a problem faced mostly by those with properties back in the old country but getting beaten up and killed is an indication of where the Philippines is headed. Non-payment of rent by relatives has always been a sore point between relatives and most of the time this is never discussed or avoided since it is a problem that embarrasses or a stain to the family name.
Most of the time Filipinos who migrated to the west are faced with this kind of problem on non-payment of rent especially when the renters, relatives or not knew that the owner of the property is out of the country. For one who will bother take them to a snail paced court system where it will cost more money in terms of loss income from the time spent trying to collect on delinquent renters? The obvious solution is to sell the property but it seems it is a high risk proposition so what recourse should absentee owners take to resolve their problem?
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32 Speak Out:
Hopeless Pinoys, 5 years rent free, what more do they want? Killing their relative over a property when he has every right to do what he wants with it is just sad.
There are always two sides in a story like this. The accused is presumed innocent unless proven guilty. The truth will eventually come out. It's just sad that the victim is already dead and cannot point his real killer.
Paraffin test will determine who the killer is and the rest are as guilty as well for ganging and beating up their relative.
There is no justification when a group of people kill a human being and it makes it worse when the victim is their own blood..... these are the scourge of society who deserves to be incarcerated for the safety of the people. Sure the presumption of innocence is paramount but this kind of case is normally a slam dunk for prosecutors.......
Yes, I believe that there is always two sides of the story. The police should have tested the alleged killer for paraffin test, but since it happened in the Philippines, where, we all know what the justice system is..
At this point, the report is only based on the story of the accuser. The police should do a thorough investigation as to what really transpired that night, what led to the shooting and if the alledged killer has a real motive to shoot the victim. As a reader, we cannot judge the accused based on the story of the accuser alone.
The guy is dead after getting beat up with his relatives not lifting a finger to help or prevent the crime....... now how exactly will the "accused" get out of that assuming he has no motive? The victim beat himself up and shot himself dead...... do you know something that we don't know to prove their innocence?
Hi guys, kindly view this site...the comments are overwhelmingly being added as day passes by.. this link is related to the issues regarding the filipino canadian mentioned in this blog. There is something that lies beneath the newspaper and other news exposed by our media. You can free to judge regarding the views, points and opinions of the bloggers.
By the way here is the link...
http://thepinoycanadian.wordpress.com/2009/03/26/filipino-canadian-murdered-by-own-relatives/
this is the other side of story Allow me to tell you what really transpired on the night Ricardo (Jojo) Espinosa was shot to death. First of all my brother Totie is not residing at their house or property in Kamias Quezon city Totie is From Guadalupe Makati city and has a metal fabrication business and a Mechanical Engineer so it’s not true that he resides in Ricardo’s ancestral home in Kamias Quezon City. It was our second cousin Ethel Banilla who lives there, and has a dispute with our Cousins Auntie Linda and Marlon “Bong” Espinosa (Mom and Brother of Jojo). On the 21st of March 2009 Manang Ethel texted(sms) Totie to ask if our Toyota Van is available and if he can help her to move-out from the house of Jojo so maghahakot lang sila ng gamit ni manang Ethel. When they (totie and wife maedee, 1 pamangkin, and 1 helper)arrived sa house nila Jojo, Nag-hug pa sila ni Totie because it’s their first time na nagkita at nag-usap sila after 16 long years long years so nag-uusap sila habang naghahakot my auntie Linda even commented sa wife ni Totie na saying “O Maedee away lang namin nila Manang Ethel mo ito Hah wala kayo dito” and my sister-in-law replied “opo Auntie tinulungan lang namin manang Ethel para maglipat” But yung brother ni Jojo na si Marlon “Bong” Espinosa ang maingay and even threatend one of our pamangkin na si Bj na papatayin ya ito very provoking talaga. Jojo and Auntie got Mad pa nga kay Bong because he was to loud nakakahiya daw sa mga neighbors. So after mapuno na yung van,totie and wife decided to leave pero manang Ethel said that hintayin lang yung passenger jeep na ni-rent din ya para maghakot it was Manang Ethel’s relative sa other side so hindi related sa mga Espinosa and hindi sya goons ng brother ko! So the passenger jeep arrives with around 6-7 men aboard and they confronted Jojo and Marlon and they have a fight not only a fist fight but also a dagger fight because both parties have knives and bolos. And manang Ethel shouting to men boarding the passenger jeep to stop and go home. After the fight Jojo with a knife start confronting manang Ethel whose inside the van and swaying his knife to manang ethel and even got a cut near the risk because she was depending herself. Our cousin told us na in raged na raw si Jojo na black-out na raw so after manang Ethel sila Totie maedee and our two cousins ang hinahabol ya my sister-in-law in raised her and saying “Jo wala kaming alam doon d namin kilala yon ” it was her brother Marlon who was saying na “saan na yung resback yo!” and sounded na he was provoking his brother to get revenged kila Totie and company. At the time Totie and maedee is running away to get help from a police so it was my pamangkin BJ and her mother ang medyo malapit kay Jojo so wala na sila sa tapat ng bahay nila which Marlon claims na sa tapat ng bahay si jojo Binaril. To continue, Jojo who continues with his outraged came across a car which happen to be their neighbor and confronted the driver of the car swaying his knife and to the defense of the driver he fires a warning shot but jojo continues to chase the driver and the driver shot Jojo with his gun and one of the companion of the driver even hit Jojo with a baseball bat.
Facts:
1. Sal-lito Espinosa never resides at the ancestral home of Ricardo Espinosa, NEVER !IT WAS MANANG ETHEL who rented their house .
SO SAL-LITO HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE PROPERTY DISPUTE.
2. Sal-lito never owned a gun.
3. Never involved in fights
4. 16 Years of no communication with Jojo, they hugged and exchanged stories when they met after 16 years.
WHY WOULD MY BROTHER MURDER HIS COUSIN? ANONG REASON???
5. Marlon Bong Espinosa even pointed to the police who first came to the crime scene, the house where the gunman enters after he shot his brother and it is the same place where bullet slugs were recovered.
TAPOS AFTER 5 DAYS YUNG BROTHER KO NA TINUTURO NYA.
6. Pag sinabing murder pinag planuhan, treachery
PAG NAG MURDER KA BA SASAMA MO PA WIFE MO?
Victim din kami dito , I know si Marlon Bong Espinosa and wife ang may pakana nito we don’t know kung ano gusto nila palabasin.
We need help
THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!!
to enlighten the readers, here are the facts which totally contradicts the statements made by mario espinosa, brother of deceased ricardo espinosa jr.:
1. salito espinosa does not live in kamias. he is not involved in any property dispute. it was another cousin (ethel) who lives and pays rent in kamias (upon request of mario's parents). salito was arrested without a warrant in his home at guadalupe makati on march 25, 4 days after the shooting incident happened.
2. salito did not go to kamias to kill ricardo who is a second cousin. both met the first time that night (march 21) after 16 years of not seeing each other and even hugged each other. salito was with his wife who is a first cousin of mario and ricardo. they went to kamias to help cousin ethel move out with her belongings.
3. after ricardo provoked a fistfight with another group who also came just to help cousin ethel with her belonings, ricardo (who was drunk)went amok with a knife and threatened to kill everyone present that night including neighbors and bystanders who could not pacify him. mario was just watching his brother run amok with a knife and enjoying the scene since he's used to it. the neighbors and bystanders witnessed what happened to ricardo but would rather not get involved in the case.
4. salito and his wife ran to ask help from the police. when the police arrived, mario espinosa did not point to salito as the killer but instead pointed to the house where the killer entered. the killer may have shot ricardo in self defense.
5. salito is suffering in jail for a crime he did not commit. he is a good man, husband and father. he is an engineer and has his own business. you may read testimonies and other facts in the link http://thepinoycanadian.wordpress.com
6. mario is jobless that's why he wants to sell the property. the property dispute is actually with the family on his mother side.
so why did mario accuse his cousin salito as the one who shot and killed his brother ricardo jr.? maybe mario was afraid of the killer who may be a police asset. or maybe mario found out that the insurance will not pay if his brother was shot due to self defense. or is it just innate in mario (the fagot) to play the devil in any situation. we can only guess. only mario knows the answer. now, you be the judge.
Wow, these anonymous writers are making it sounds as if the Victim is the one at fault!
SHAME ON YOU!!
It's so easy for them to name facts because the Victim cannot defend himself since he's dead!
I agree with the Political Jaywalker.. did the Victim beat himself up?! Did he shoot himself? And why would he bring this unto himself when he is there on vacation with his family?!
To the Anonymous person with all the facts...
Those are not FACTS as you call them.. they are your side of the story!
If what you say is true why is the Murderer still in jail? There has to be crucial evidence to keep him there aside from the Victim's brothers statement.
Have you tried going to the Police with your facts? They probably told you the same thing, which is why you're stating your facts on blogs.
We do not know the Victim's side of the story, but I'm deeply sorry for the Victim's family! And to have the family of the Accused, who is also related to the Victim, bash his memory and his image, this is just WRONG!
On the question whether they went to the police to state the "facts" they wrote here the reports says that they were uncooperative thus a big number of their clan was hauled to the police station, is it a fact or fiction? Is it easier to tell the facts anonymously in a blog like this rather than with the authorities because there are legal consequences?
Why did the movers went to the victims rented property armed? Who was responsible for bringing armed men to confront the victims?
Indeed, it's a shame to dishonor the dead especially one who was killed under such circumstance where his own blood was involved.
This is for "barkada ni bong" comment...Iam just confused of what you are saying in your blog that you know both men and you were there when the incident happens.Are you a FRIEND OR FOE?If you are really there at the incident site, why don't you come forward and tell the truth,give justice to Ricardo Jr.(who you said, a maton-siga image) and give justice to the cousin (who is in jail,who you said you did'nt know the guy)and para mapiga ang mario (Who you said,mayabang and is homo-silahis. Kung may alam ka, why don't you come forward para matapos na ang paghihirap ng magkabilang party ng pamilya.GUSTO MO BANG MAGPABAYAD? TAKOT KA RIN BA SA KILLER, like mario? Dahil kung andoon ka the whole time, kung nakita mo si mario na nakita niya ang shooter, of course it make sense na nakita mo rin. Bakit dada ka ng dada sa blog.Kung may concience ka, at KAMO kaibigan ka ng dalawa (JoJO & Bong) bakit di ka gumawa ng maka-taong paraan. I challenge you "BARKADA NI BONG"
Political Jaywalker is right.. I think the reason for these Anonymous posts is to ruin the credibility and reputation of the deceased and the witness. And the reason this is not brought up in court is because these statements of "facts" are not admissable in court!
I have the same nagging question in my head, why did these movers come to the house with intent to harm? And who asked them to come? These are the question that are unanswered by the family of the Accused.
I strongly believe that the truth will come out and I hope for the sake of the Victim's family and the family of the Accused that it is sooner rather than later...
Sinong Barkada ni Bong? Wrong blog?
It is true what some people on THIS blog are saying. It is a shame to dishonor the dead - those on alanthepinoy's blog are abusing freedom of speech. It started out as a mediating thing and now 98% of the posters are trying to defame and accuse Mario for doing what he can for his brother, including alanthepinoy himself. It's also true that they are racking up the posts on the blog b/c what they are saying will NOT hold up in court.
In response to Anonymous at 5/2/09 7:46: Your facts are not actually facts. #1-Ethel did not pay one penny of rent. ONE PENNY. and #6-The house is not Mario's to sell. It belongs to his mother. He will benefit nothing from the house being sold. Don't call your statements facts if they are not. You should use a dictionary. They are available on internet.
Mario and his family will gain nothing from this fight. They are trying to collect what justice is possible for Jojo, but even if justice is served it will still not take the slightest amount of pain away. This death has affected a family of 3 generations, from Grandma to nieces, grieving everytime they see a picture, everytime they hear the name. Salito is still alive. His family can still SEE him, TOUCH him, TALK to him. Jojo's kids have been forced to see reality at an age so young - FORCED to mature and their innocence and youth STRIPPED from them. They see Jojo in their dreams, wearing the clothes of that dreadful day, and wake up to the reality.
These, guys, are FACTS.
Bro,
Many have been said between these site and the wordpress, let's go to the fact/s point by point about the property in dispute. If you want first hand information go to Kamias St. ang get in touch with the Patubo Family (mother side of Mario)they're the one who can state the fact that amongst them (Patubo)are in dispute over this property which Mario's family cannot sell. Bottomline is the property is owned by the Patubo siblings including Mario's mom and therefore cannot be Espinosa. No way that Espinosa or even Banilla family can claim this property, so call them so that it would be unbiased for both.
ALL YOU ESPINOSA AND BANILLA'S IN THE PHILIPPINES ARE LEECHERS AND FREELOADERS!!!
Want to know more....
Fact 1. As stated previously property in dispute was not between Espinosa but Patubo family (family of Mario's mom)so no way Espinosa clan is involved in their property affair.
Here's fact no. 2
The Certificate of Title (Titulo)will hold the fact that the property is owned by them and definitely no other name from other Espinosa side was named or involved as co-owner except their own Family name which is Espinosa. I think they failed to remember that their family name is Espinosa from Mario's father Ricardo Espinosa. Therefore, it seems that there was really a property dispute between Espinosa which is actually them and Patubo family and NOT the other Espinosa side. If you're interested to see the Title ask them and look at the fine prints also. Do some investigative work and check the Registry of Deeds and check the first manuscript of the title there you would see revelations connecting the truth.
What is odd here is that anonymous posters are extending their family dispute over in cyberspace, exactly what they think they can achieve by doing so escapes me. The fact of the matter is that a balikbayan was killed over a non-payment of rent which is sadly a problem faced by most balikbayans and to see that one gets killed over this problem is scary and a reflection of the kind of society the Philippines has become.
Don't worry we would not make this an arena of squabbles, we're just divulging the truth that was concealed and the deception that is present. Everything commented here are all in the spectrum of politics a combined sense of a pedestrian observer and political jaywalker, looking not on what you perceived but what is not there. After all these are peoples voice and not peoples court.
So if you don't want to be tagged as biased human being then let the peoples mind speak whether the TRUTH or the dark side of the truth.
The family of the accused should just let the courts deal with it. What's the point in squabbling on a blog?! No one cares!
It just makes you all look like fools!
This blog is about the victim/deceased.
Create a separate blog for your arguments which should really just be heard in court.
When the victim got mauled & bloody beaten up by this group of male their intention was to kill. So the next step was to finish what others started. Its very obviuous that this was planned and a conspiracy. Unfortunately, their are people who witness the crime and their alibi didn't work.
To Anonymous said...
Sorry, if this will be your story and truly believe this what transpired that night then its not believable.
FACTS:
1. The victim was mauled by group with sharp weapons and seems nobody care to help the victim.
2. If the victim had a knife then why is it nobody got badly hurt when he was portrayed amok.
3. That's balony when the story mentioned that the brother just standing watching his brother attack with the knife.
4. If they saw the victim was attack by stranger then why everybody left and not help the victim to caught point and identify the gun men.
5.Its so lame to assume that the brother was after the Insurance that's he point the accused.
6.If the brother pointed out the killer house according to your story to the cops then i assumed the cops will go directly to the place .
7.If the person was hit by a baseball bat do you honestly think they could still stand?
8.I got curious how big the victim was because after he was beaten up still able to ran with a knife then shot plus hit by a baseball .
9. Then where are all this people who witness the crime against a relative they just watch and ran left the poor victim who
just arrived in Canada
10. Their will be justice for according to your story their are by standers that night and only be the person who could say who's side telling the truth.
The victim was away for 16 yrs. and if your been away that long from the phillippines i'm sure his character as a balikbayan was very observant and aloof with people.
To the brother of the accused, where did you get your facts and story. are you there? So if everybody saw the killer, why then they left the crime scene and not help the family of the victim to catch the killer that night. The fact that everybody saw the killer why then nobody come forward to give their statement and only now their talking.
Good point and not only did they not cooperate with the investigators but no one prevented the hooligans from beating up the victim and after he was shot no one came out of the house to help or at least see how the victim is doing.
Wow.. I can't believe this blog is still active!
I still pray for the family of the victim and may Justice be served!
mario " bong" espinosa the brother of the victim is the real culprit. he killed his own brother and blame others just to save himself from blaming him...the truth will prevail!!! In Gods time..justice will be serve..
the real killer is his own brother mario a.k.a. bong. he wants to save himself from blame. he put his brother from danger which result to his untimely death.. he points his finger to someone just to divert the attention to the accused...i believed in karma and i know bong will suffer from it including all his family...
Lucas,
Your accusation that the brother of the victim as the murderer is just truly sick. Do you expect people to believe this baseless accusation without any shred of evidence to be believable?
How stupid this comment that a brother who declared as a witness became a culprit. What your saying his family will suffer. the family already suffering for losing a brother from the hands of the people who they never thought going to do such thing. wake up!
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