“We don’t know how to bring his remains home. We are requesting assistance from the [Philippine] government and other concerned agencies or individuals,” Winnie, the victim’s younger brother, said in a telephone interview with the Variety.
Their 68-year-old father already knew what had happened while their relatives were still assessing the condition of Gonzales’ 63-year-old mother before informing her of the death of her second to the eldest son.
A telegram had been sent to Gonzales’ nine-year-old daughter and her mother, currently based in southern Philippines, the victim’s brother said.
Gonzales and the mother of their child were not married.
The Department of Public Safety has yet to release details of the incident.
The case is still under investigation, DPS acting spokesman PO2 Jason Tarkong told the Variety.
Shortly after lunch yesterday, Gonzales’ friends gathered outside the ICU after learning that his condition had further worsened.
Gonzales had been in a coma after he was assaulted.
It was his friends who monitored his medical condition, and sought assistance from the Philippine Consulate General and the local police.
They also updated the victim’s relatives in the Philippines about the case.
The Variety was told that Gonzales was talking to his girlfriend, a teenager, when he was hit on the neck with a hard object by the girl’s former boyfriend.
Gonzales was then punched in the face and was repeatedly kicked by the same attacker, the Variety was told.
The incident occurred at about 5 p.m. on Monday, near the intersection in front of Kagman High School.
The assailant has been identified.
After the assault, Gonzales stayed inside his car which was parked near an Internet café.
A witness later called for an ambulance after finding Gonzales unconscious inside his vehicle.
Gonzales’ friends were called by the police at about 9:40 p.m., informing them that the victim was brought to CHC.
On Tuesday, Gonzales’ friends went back to the scene of the incident and tried to talk to some witnesses and officials of Kagman High School.
They were also able to recover Gonzales’ car whose driver’s seat, they said, had bloodstains.
Gonzales was described by his friends to be a jolly person and dedicated to his work.
They recalled that Gonzales was sent to Saipan by his main office in the Philippines where he worked for water company.
Here, he was called “Mr. Suave,” after winning a singing contest years ago.
He was unemployed but was hoping to find a new job and was waiting for a call from a company.
His friends said they were all shocked upon learning what had happened to him.
Acting Philippine Consul General Belinda Ante yesterday said Gonzales’s passport had already expired, and that he was not a member of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, which provides insurance benefits.
Welfare Office Rey Tayag said since Gonzales arrived on Saipan in 2003, he had failed to pay his OWWA membership.
Ante said they will help the victim’s family in the repatriation of the remains.
Variety learned that the former employer of Gonzales, Aqualite Water Company, has filed for bankruptcy.
Gonzales had filed a labor case against his former employer.
United Filipino Organizations president Olive Yana said they are soliciting funds to provide assistance to Gonzales’ family.
Yana can be contacted at 285-7893 or at 234-6529.
