JUSTICE delayed is justice denied?
In a sense, yes.
But not all the time.
A positive court decision will still have a meaningful impact, especially if the beneficiary of the verdict is still very much around.
I cite the case of Luisito Espinosa, the former world boxing champion known by his moniker “Lindol,” who finally won his case to claim the balance of his purse in a 1997 fight after 22 years of court battles.
The Supreme Court has made it happen. Cheers to you, fellas!
The High Court ruled on November 13, 2019, that the heirs of the late Rodolfo Nazario must pay Espinosa $120,349 (about P6.6 million) plus interest as balance of Espinosa’s purse in his victory over Argentine Carlos Rios in 1997.
I covered that fight as the sports editor then of the Inquirer in Koronadal, South Cotabato, where Espinosa would force Rios to retirement after having so severely punished the challenger for 12 brutal rounds.
Before that encounter on December 6, 1997, Espinosa and Nazario signed a contract on October 16, 1997, stipulating that Espinosa would be paid $150,000, plus $10,000 for training expenses. Also, Espinosa would receive $60,000 in advance.
But on the eve of the fight, Espinosa pocketed only $29,651.
Just hours before the fight, Espinosa refused to fight unless he was paid the full amount.
Only when Nazario presented Espinosa a letter of guarantee promising to pay the balance on or before December 16 did the fighter accede.
But after failing to collect the balance following repeated demands, Espinosa sued Nazario, then South Cotabato Gov. Hilario de Pebro III and Joselito Mondejar on May 8, 1998 at the Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC).
After Nazario died in 2009, he was succeeded in the case by his wife, then Supreme Court Justice Minita Chico-Nazario, and their children Rhoderick, Rommelious and Karen Patricia.
Espinosa lost his case in the RTC in August 2011 but upon appeal, he won in the Court of Appeals in May 2015, with De Pedro and Mondejar getting absolved.
Wrote the Inquirer’s Jerome Aning: “The Supreme Court noted that Nazario made an implied admission of due execution and genuineness of the documents as he did not deny or disprove them during the proceedings.”
Espinosa’s victory might have come late, yes, but the bonanza should help repair the damage—and end the untold suffering—that Espinosa has had to endure the last two decades.
I rejoice as much as the fighter does—Espinosa being my wedding godson. Recah Trinidad and Danding Cojuangco, among others, were my fellow godfathers upon the instigation of the late, lamented Hermie Rivera, the irrepressible sportscaster who, as Lindol’s manager, adroitly plotted Espinosa’s ascent to the world featherweight throne.
Last I heard, Espinosa is in San Francisco, California, training aspiring boxers, although Aning said in his report that my godson is in Dalian, China, also as a boxing trainer.
He’s gone through hard times in America. He held odd jobs there, like washing the dishes and opening doors in restaurants. His wife left him when he was in the dumps.
I earnestly pray he could collect his money as quickly as possible.
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THAT’S IT After winning the Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup a fourth time on January 17, Tim Cone said his next target would be the All-Filipino in March. That’s because he said he hasn’t won it yet since he started coaching Barangay Ginebra in 2015. Is San Miguel Beer Coach Leo Austria, the five-time defending champion, listening?