|
Saying he has lost faith in the country’s justice
system, former two division world boxing champion Luisito Espinosa
will try to seek the help of President Gloria Arroyo in his efforts
to collect his long-deserved purse in a title fight fought 11 years
ago.
The now 41-year-old Tondo boy,
who once held the World Boxing association bantamweight crown and
the World Boxing Council featherweight plum, said he has already
sent to Malacañang his intentions of seeing the President as a last
resort to get justice.
A case which has been gathering
dust at the sala of Judge Rosario Cruz of the Manila Regional Trial
Court, was filed by Espinosa in 1998 seeking to collect the $150,000
(roughly P6 million) purse he earned for defending his 122-pound
title via a sixth round technical knockout victory over Argentine
Carlos Rios in Koronadal, South Cotabato in 1997.
Named respondents in the case
were fight promoters, former South Cotabato Gov. Hermiliano de
Pedro, Lito Mondejar and Rod Nazario.
Espinosa said he was able to
collect P100,000 out of the total purse but has not receive a single
centavo after that.
He recalled that then president
Fidel Ramos tried to mediate by sending him P5 million, P1 million
of which would be available the following day after it was promised.
Espinosa expressed suspicion, however, that it was his estranged
wife, Marie Cherrie, who collected the amount.
“This is not just for me but
also for my two children. I hope the good president would grant my
appeal.”
--Eddie Noguera
|
