Slain lawyer’s son in Sydney police custody

BAGUIO CITY — Sef Gonzales, the 20-year-old son of slain lawyer Teodoro Gonzales, has been taken into custody by Australian police, his Baguio-based uncle said yesterday.

Erlindo "Earl" Tesoro told The STAR in a telephone interview that his wife Annie, younger sister of the murdered lawyer, called him up yesterday to say that Australian authorities are keeping a tight watch on Sef.

Tesoro said Sydney police had taken custody of Sef to protect him from another possible attack by his family’s killers.

"We believe in the competence of the Australian police," Tesoro said, adding he not know where Sef is being kept.

"Actually, he is under counseling now,"Tesoro said.

Tesoro refused to comment on Sef’s reported link to the crime, saying they will have to wait for the result of the investigation.

Reports have linked Sef to the crime, which was described as an "outrage" by authorities in Australia.

Tesoro said memorial services will be held for Gonzales, his wife, Loiva and their daughter, Claudine in Sydney on Friday.

"I do not know yet if the cremation of Teddyboy will follow," he said.

Earlier, Tesoro said Gonzales expressed the wish during a recent family reunion that if he dies, his body should be cremated and the ashes brought back to Baguio.

However, the remains of Gonzales’ wife and daughter may be buried in Sydney because Loiva’s mother and other family members are living there, he added.

Annie and elder brother Frederick flew to Sydney last July 13 for their brother’s memorial service.