In July of the previous year, Australian businessman David Fisk, along with his partner Lucita Cortez and her daughter-in-law Mary Jane Cortez, was tragically murdered in their hotel room in the Philippines. A year later, the aftermath has left the Fisk family deeply dissatisfied with the handling of the case, as they claim the police investigation was poorly managed, leading to a botched court process that may allow the perpetrator to evade justice.
The accused, hotel cleaner Ronel Perido Estipona, recently received a sentence of slightly over ten years for the triple murder—a punishment that the Fisk family deems insufficient. Lacinda Fisk, David’s daughter, has voiced her anguish, indicating that the family’s grief is compounded by the judicial outcomes they are now facing. She expressed that the handling of the case feels like a rushed resolution, lacking commensurate justice for their immense loss.
Compounding their distress is the assertion that critical missteps were made by the prosecution, including the disappearance of vital witnesses and procedural errors rendering important confessions inadmissible. Australian officials reportedly missed three significant court appearances before the family opted to recruit their own legal representation. This led them to reluctantly accept a plea deal for homicide, instead of pursuing a more serious robbery charge that could have resulted in a long-term sentence.
Lacinda’s frustration echoes in her sentiment that they were powerless within the judicial system, likening their situation to being bound, just like their father during the incident. The family’s lawyer, Derrick Lu, has echoed concerns regarding the integrity of the investigation, suggesting that local authorities hurried to resolve the case for public image reasons, thus compromising thoroughness and truth.
The emotional burden on the family was further exacerbated when Lacinda and her sister, Brittany, were required to pay substantial fees to present their victim impact statements remotely at the Philippine consulate. They lamented the lack of support from their government, questioning the efficacy of embassies designed to assist Australians abroad during such traumatic events.
In an effort to seek accountability, the sisters are now pursuing legal action against the Lake Hotel in Tagaytay for negligence. Despite their ongoing struggle, Lacinda remains hopeful that, in the future, new evidence or confessions will emerge to uncover greater truths, though she acknowledges the many hurdles that lay ahead.