Charles Teves
Social media fixture Xian Gaza reminded people how he was man enough to immediately surrender to authorities over his involvement in an investment scam years ago.
His trip down memory lane came after SUV driver Jose Antonio Sanvicente finally gave himself up for running over a security guard in Mandaluyong.
Sanvicente’s family was granted a press conference to clear things up. His parents and lawyer were present vouching for him.
“NO PARENTS. NO ABOGADO. SUMUKO SA PUBLIKO. HINARAP MAG-ISA ANG KANYANG MGA ATRASO. GANYAN ANG TUNAY NA LALAKI,” Gaza said in a June 16. Facebook post containing photos of his arrest and Sanvicente’s appearance at Camp Krame.
Gaza explained that the fraudulent act he committed was so exaggerated that it isn’t even considered a crime in other countries.
“Nag-issue ako ng 11 post-dated checks tapos walang pondo kaya tumalbog lahat. That’s it. Ganun lang kababaw. It’s not even a crime sa abroad. Inexaggerate lang talaga sa social media,” Gaza wrote.
He explained that his reputation as a “scammer” was perpetuated by several people, including the mother of actress Ella Cruz after his coffee date billboard dedicated to Erich Gonzales went viral.
“Una, nanay ni Ella Cruz. Iniscam ko daw ang kanilang pamilya kahit hindi naman talaga. Sa katunayan eh higit 300K pesos ang napakinabangan nila sa akin in 3 months time. Hindi ko madepensahan ang aking sarili kasi sino ba naman ako? Sino’ng maniniwala sa akin eh nanay yun ng isang sikat na artista. From that day eh sinumpa ko sa aking sarili na magiging sikat din ako balang araw kagaya ng mga artista.
Others then used Gaza’s name to further their interests by accusing him of scamming them. Gaza could not successfully exonerate himself at the time due to his relatively small following.
“Second, isang babaeng influencer from Davao ang nagsabi sa Twitter na iniscam ko daw siya at marami pang iba kahit hindi naman talaga. Tamang sakay lang sa virality ko that time. Parasite lang daw ako ng mga famous personalities kagaya ni Ella Cruz, Liza Soberano at Ogie Diaz. Walang naniwala sa paliwanag ko kasi wala akong social media followers unlike niya.
“Pangatlo, yung founder ng Filipino Vines page. Iniscam ko daw siya kahit 1.6 million pesos ang napakinabangan niya sa akin in 9 months time bilang financer ng kanyang negosyo. Walang naniwala sa akin. Sino ba naman ako?” he shared.
Because of the unintentional reputation he built, Gaza vowed to become “rich.”
“Fourth, isang mayamang lalaki ang nagsabi na iniscam ko daw siya kahit hindi naman talaga. Na-delay lang ng isang buwan yung bayad ko sa kanya. Yung 200K niya ay naging 230K, tumubo pa siya actually. Walang naniwala sa kwento ko dahil isa akong hampaslupa tapos siya ay maraming pera. From that day eh sinumpa ko sa aking sarili na balang araw ay magiging milyonaryo ako at mas mayaman sa kanya,” he continued.
He made the criticisms against him as “stepping stones” to achieving success.
“Sobrang tindi ng hugot ko for the past 4 years. Yung mga bato na ipinukol nila sa akin ang siyang ginamit ko as stepping stone to where I am today. Yung matinding paninira na ginawa nilang apat sa akin ang naging primary source of motivation ko upang magtagumpay sa buhay,
“Nakapaghiganti ako sa paraan na yung sarili ko ang nakinabang. Tinrabaho ko na palakihin ang aking sarili and powerful enough upang hindi na ko masiraan pang muli.
“Kung may naninira sayong tao at ang puso mo ay punong-puno ng paghihiganti ngayon, always remember that the best revenge is massive success.” Gaza wrote.
Meanwhile, the PNP has admitted that the press conference only gave Sanvicente more leverage. The PNP also said that despite recording Sanvicente’s actions, it has no legal basis to arrest him due to a lack of a warrant to do so.
