|
For the past 21 years, The Filipino Express has provided the Filipino American community the best news, arts and entertainment coverage from around the United States and the Philippines.
|
|
This website includes selected articles from this week's edition of the Filipino Express. Not all the stories published in the printed version appear on this site.
|
|
|
|
To tell us what you think about Filipino Express Online or to comment on the stories published here, E-mail us at Filexpress@aol.com
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Filipino Americans deliver message at the Eddy Casco sentencing
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
JERSEY CITY– Teris Casco, a young Filipina who was brutally beaten to death by her husband on January 20, 2007 after a night out celebrating her 33rd birthday, finally received justice as Superior Court Judge Peter Vasquez sentenced Eddy Casco to 18 years in prison for aggravated manslaughter, as part of a plea agreement.
Members of Teri’s family were not able to witness the sentence hearing at the Hudson County Superior Court House in Jersey City, as they could not afford the travel expense from their respective residences in the Philippines, Hawaii, and Japan. The sentencing, which originally was scheduled on May 6, concluded after a day of delay and proceeded on May 7.
On March 30, Eddy Casco pleaded guilty to the aggravated manslaughter charge, admitting that he beat his wife Teris to death, and provided a gruesome account of the battery and fatal injuries, including broken ribs in 20 places and a broken nose. It was only because of their two young sons, who returned from the baby-sitter and asked what was wrong with their mother who they saw covered in blood while lying in bed, that prompted Eddy Casco to call 911, but it was already too late.
Community representatives from the San Francisco based Filipina Women’s Network (FWN), Filipino American Health & Human Services (FAHSI) based in Queens, and the Philippine American Friendship Committee, Inc. (PAFCOM) based in Jersey City, attended the sentence hearing in a show of support to Teris Casco and her family.
Nina Nugyen Lagac and April Anne Tiamzon of FWN, Rosalinda Medina-Rupel and Lourdes Corrales of PAFCOM, and Johanna Martinez of FAHSI were at the sentencing. Lagac of FWN gave a statement to the court on behalf of Teris Casco and other victims of domestic violence.
“Good morning Judge. On behalf of all Filipinos who are afraid to speak out against domestic and intimate partner violence and for everyone who fell victim to their abusers, we thank the Court for the opportunity to have the Filipino American community be heard,” said Lagac.
“Teris Casco – mother, wife, daughter, sister, and friend – didn’t have to die. Her memory lives on in us forever. We, therefore urge this honorable court to impose the maximum sentence as recommended by the state in the plea agreement. We further believe hat such sentence will serve as a deterrent to batterers and encourage victims of domestic violence to come out, and speak up, and no longer be afraid,” she added.
Eddy Casco was sobbing and emotional before being sentenced and said, “I knew what I did was wrong. I never meant to hurt my wife.”
Assistant Prosecutor Stephen Dill made a strong rebuttal, saying that “the beating belies that fact” that Casco meant no harm. In addition to the horrific accounts of the beating, it was revealed in court that Eddy Casco had time to make breakfast while Teris lay battered in bed.
Assistant Prosecutor Dill said that he may have convicted Eddy Casco of murder but did not want to risk the possibility that the defendant may get a lesser sentence, saying that much of the evidence on the pattern of spousal abuse may not have come in.
“In a situation like this where there were only two people that were there, and the other one is dead, we were afraid that his version will be given some credence by the jury,” said Assistant Prosecutor Dill. "Under the circumstances,and what we thought we were able to introduce, that was a very just sentence.”
The Assistant Prosecutor also commented on the grave nature of domestic violence crimes, saying that society is still catching up, and that such tragedies are still seen as something between a husband and wife.
“I feel that domestic violence is one of the most awful things that can happen,” said Dill. “This is a person who has professed their love for somebody and taken a vow to protect them. Then they turn out to be the person who takes her life. And the sad betrayal makes this sort of crime even more heinous than a stranger on stranger crime.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
With a broken back and shattered hopes, a Filipino immigrant worker struggles to live
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
It is December 27, 2004, and New York City is exploding with life. Herald Square is overflowing with shoppers, tourists gather around store windows to see elaborate displays, while lovers hug to keep themselves warm.
A couple of blocks up is the legendary Time Square. It is a different animal. The aroma of roasted chestnuts and grilled kebabs engulf the massive number of people going about their holiday businesses. It is festive, vibrant and full of promise.
However, for a Filipino immigrant named Kevin Reeves, who is working the night shift at a nearby coffee shop along Broadway, the night will mark a change in his young life– a change for the worse.
Kevin’s manager asks him to go to the stock room to get supplies– a task that would require him to go down a short flight of stairs en route to the stock room.
He nods his head in obedience and makes his way down the staircase. He will not even reach the stock room– As Kevin makes another step, he slips on a puddle of water on the staircase and falls– back first. A loud cracking sound emanates from Kevin’s back as he hits the floor and he grimaces in pain. His American dream is over.
A broken man Kevin’s fall broke his spine in five places, and doctors had to insert metal rods to repair it. Now, Kevin walks with permanent limp, a scarred and artificial back, some memory loss, and a damaged spirit.
“I am good as dead,” said Kevin in an exclusive interview with the Filipino Express.
“No company will hire me anymore, I live on unemployment, I can barely remember my childhood and I am depressed all the time.”
He admits that he is seeing a psychologist for talk therapy to cope with his depression. He is not paralyzed, however, there is always the threat of paralysis due to the fragile nature of his spine. One wrong step could further damage his already fragile back.
When asked to recall bits of his childhood, Kevin stuttered and could not come up with anything. He appeared to be struggling to get in touch with his past, even the circumstances of his migration to New York. All he remembers is that he just came to New York to pursue his American Dream.
Despite this handicap, he managed to piece together some bits of things about his life: He said that he came from a family of models in the Philippines. His eldest sister used to be a model and now married to a wealthy American businessman in California.
He and his family migrated to California, and from there, Kevin moved to New York in 2004.
His work at the coffee shop was his first job in New York, and he lived in Queens while he was doing this. He also remembers that he was an active young man, who loved to swim, and recalls that he once joined modeling competition for men– the Ginoong Filipinas.
The lawsuit
After the accident in December 2004, Kevin still mustered enough strength to work until January 2005, but his condition got a lot worse, so he stopped and filed for unemployment and workman’s compensation.
The insurance firm of the coffee shop he worked for is currently paying for his medical expenses, including the surgery he had in January 2008, the physical therapy, and even the sessions with the psychologist.
Now, Kevin, with the help of lawyers, filed a suit against the owner of the building where he worked claiming negligence on their part.
“The water on the stairs where I slipped was caused by melted snow sipping through the door by the staircase. The owners did not maintain the building well and neglected this problem which caused my accident,” Kevin said.
Kevin claims that the building is co-owned by a prominent Hollywood recording artist/producer and a giant telecommunications company. He believes that with the evidence that he has, he will win the law suit and he will be awarded the right compensation to take care of his health and livelihood for as long as he lives. He believes that the money he could win will keep him alive, but not necessarily make him happy.
Kevin alleges that the defendants are intimidating him and seems to be pressuring him to settle early for a smaller sum. When asked how much the exact cost of his claim is, Kevin refused to answer, however, he did indicate that the money he is claiming is not less than a million dollars.
“Maybe they don’t want to hand me the large amount I am claiming so they are resorting to intimidation. I believe they are doing so because I am Asian, and they think I won’t fight,” he observed. “The Hollywood music producer is very rich, I know he can pay me the money I need.”
He recounted how he felt his privacy was breached at the last hearing weeks ago, when the lawyer representing the owners of the building demanded him to show his bag for inspection. He refused at first saying that the contents of his bag are private and have no bearing in the case whatsoever. But he said that the lawyer was adamant and insisted on having a court officer inspect his bag. Finally, Kevin’s counsel relented to the request and subjected the bag for inspection.
“The lawyer was accusing me of having a script in my bag. “Kevin said.” He thought my answers to my lawyer’s questions were prepared and scripted. He was threatening me.”
Reaching out
Kevin decided to come out with his story because he believes that once the media knows of it, the intimidation would stop. He actually requests the presence of the Filipino-American media in his hearings to give him some sort of protection from further harassment.
Although he voluntary offered his story, he acknowledges the fact that his lawyers did not want him to go public because the case is still in court and also because of the high profile celebrity involved in the lawsuit.
Kevin has indeed lost his zest for life after that fateful winter night in New York City. It is evident from his sad eyes, his weary disposition, and his perpetual limp that echoes the loud crack that broke his spine and caused his misery. He labors to find meaning in a life heavily marked by pain and misfortune. He gazes into his future and see nothing but the shadows of what might have been if he hadn’t slipped on that wet staircase. He tries to grasp the reality of having his American dream turn into an American nightmare.
Nevertheless, it is not yet late for Kevin. In 2004, his life turned for the worse. Now, there is nowhere else to turn but for the better. It is in this hope that Kevin should feel the comfort of being whole regardless of being actually broken.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CHICAGO – Filipino American community leader Ben Menor pleaded “no-contest” to Count 1, a felony – filing false financial statements – that could land him three years in jail or three years probation. Judge Ray Cunningham of the Santa Clara Superior court in San Jose, California set the sentencing on July 24.
Deputy District Attorney Stephen Lowney told this reporter that “based on the Judge’s comments I doubt he'll do real jail time.’’ Mr. Lowey did not elaborate.
Menor, 57, was ordered to pay restitution on the two remaining two counts - $32,500 (assisted living program) and $16,000 (NaFFAA conference). He has to pay back over half of this amount prior to his sentencing.
Menor pleaded no contest to the charge that he overstated by 24,000 hours the amount of time he and his agency worked under contract with the city to run the Northside Community Center, a senior housing and community center on North Sixth Street in San Jose, California. A no contest plea has the same legal effect as a guilty plea, Mr. Lowney confirmed.
The two grand theft felony charges against Menor were dismissed after he agreed to pay restitution totaling $48,000 to the city, said Lowney. Menor would have faced a maximum of four years, four months in prison if he were convicted on all charges.
Menor, said to be a native of Hawaii of Filipino ancestry, was the executive director of the Filipino American Senior Opportunities Development Council (Fil-Am SODC), a nonprofit group that operates a 92- unit senior housing and community center in San Jose. The same center is being used by Filipinos, Sikhs and Indo-Americans and was considered a model of multicultural cooperation and partnership when it was inaugurated in 2003.
When he was arraigned on Nov. 16, 2006, Menor pleaded not guilty on an indictment returned by the Santa Clara County Grand Jury. The indictment charges Ben Menor of 3056 Knights Bridge Rd., San Jose with one felony count of California Corporations Code Section 6812 (False Statement of Operations) and two felony counts of California Penal Code Section 487 (Grand Theft/Embezzlement). Menor self-surrendered on November 15, 2006 and was released on $30,000 bail.
For years, the center received grants through the City of San Jose Parks, Recreation, and Neighborhood Services Department (PRNS). Count one of the indictment alleges Mr. Menor, as part of the grant process, submitted to PRNS a fraudulently exaggerated report of his organization’s service hours.
Count two of the indictment alleges that Mr. Menor embezzled thousands of dollars from the center between May 16, 2003 and June 25, 2004 when he paid a center employee with center funds to provide full time in-home elder care to his own parents who were living in Mr. Menor’s home.
Count three alleges that Mr. Menor embezzled thousands of dollars from organizations, which granted funds to the center to fund services to elderly Filipino-Americans. Mr. Menor used over $14,000 of these funds to pay expenses related to a conference he hosted. Mr. Menor was chair of the Fifth National Federation of Filipino American Association National Empowerment Conference in San Jose in 2002.
In the civil case, the City of San Jose City asked the Superior Court of California in Santa Clara County, monetary damage of at least “$219,414, plus interest” from Mr. Menor and “100 other Does” and asked them to pay “treble damages,” “civil penalties of up to $10,000 for each false claim,” “legally recoverable interest,” “punitive and exemplary damages,” “damages for time and money properly expended in pursuit of the converted property,” other costs, including “attorney’s fees.” Included in this amount is the $30,000 SBC grant that was to be donated to the Fil-Am SODC but was instead used in 2002 national and First Global Convention of the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) held in San Jose.
Emails sent by this reporter to Mr. Menor and the officers of NaFFAA for comment were not answered.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
