LIKE me to support Mr. Vizconde So how can such accused penetrate a mind that has been made cynical by the rule drilled into his head that a defense of alibi is a hangmans noose in the face of a witness positively swearing. The other defendants were Antonio Lejano II, Hospicio Fernandez, Michael Gatchalian, Miguel Rodriguez, Peter Estrada, Joey Filart and Artemio Ventura. No. Alibi cannot prevail over the positive identification of a credible witness [140].. Policewoman Diaz even insulted Allan, saying he had no right to file the attempted rape complaint on behalf of the girl, because he was only the stepfather. Six months is not enough for him to clean up the Aegean stable that is the PNP. Powered by, Appendix: Case analysis: Supreme Courts rulings on Vizconde and Abadilla cases are contradictory, http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2010/december2010/176389.htm, http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2010/september2010/182555.htm, http://campaigns.ahrchk.net/abadilla5/docs/A5-FinalAppealPetition.pdf, http://campaigns.ahrchk.net/abadilla5/docs/A5-CAdecision.pdf. Choose Gods endless kind of love., Hernandez also reminded Vizconde that he now had three saints in Heaven.. Shades of what happened in the 2004 elections, when a national official was paid a huge sum to run under a political party. This is one of the most controversial and widely publicised massacre cases because of the involvement of the son of a former Philippine . [29], The court also held that the testimony of the Webb's maid, Mila Gaviola, was also unreliable since she was not able to distinguish if it was Hubert whom she saw on June 30, 1991, nor "did she remember any of the details that happened in the household on the other days". She observed Hubert was quite irritated, uneasy, and walked to and fro inside his room. [6][7][8] The suspects said they were tortured and forced to confess to the crime before they were presented by Filart to the media. He said that he heard Hubert Webb quarreling with another young looking customer. [165] The discrepancies between a sworn statement and testimony in court do not outrightly justify the acquittal of an accused,[166] as testimonial evidence carries more weight than an affidavit. Alejo confirmed these two (2) as the persons he saw from his guard post walking to and fro before the shooting incident. In the said stockroom, there is a small door going to Hubert's room and in that door there is a small opening where she used to see Hubert and his friends sniffing on something. She also testified that Biong received money at a house that she later learned belonged to then Paraaque Congressman Freddie Webb; the Webb family's maids, Mila Gaviola and Nerissa Rosales, who both testified that Hubert Webb was at home on June 30, 1991. De Lima said it was possible that it was Black Maria who was in the Vizconde home and not Jessica Alfaro, the NBI's star witness during the trial. [4] In the Trial Court (People of the Philippines vs. Hubert Webb, et al., G.R. The San Jose police station eventually received and filed the complaint with the prosecutors office in Batangas City, only after my staff at Isumbong mo kay Tulfo told them Diazs arrogance would reach Camp Crame. It was based on the rule of the minority and not the majority as they (the SC justices) had enunciated in Fortich v. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. 808 bound for New York and who expressed doubt on whether Hubert Webb was his co-passenger in the trip; NBI medico-legal Dr. Prospero Cabanayan, Belen Dometita and Teofilo Minoza, two of the Vizconde maids; and Manciano Gatmaitan, an engineer. A second movie, The Untold Story: Vizconde Massacre II May The Lord Be With Us, was released in 1994 and starred Vina Morales as Carmela and Joko Daz as an assailant. Lauro Vizconde: "Is there still anyone among you who doubts that there is rampant corruption in our government? [50], On January 18, 2011, the Supreme Court denied Lauro Vizconde's motion to reverse the acquittal because of double jeopardy. I would not have ended up like this if you had not neglected me). Vizconde Massacre: The hidden Truth. Former NBI official Pedro Rivera however dismissed as lies the testimony of Sacaguing saying that Agent Sacaguing had a record of notoriety in the NBI which prompted his transfer to remote places of assignment until his early retirement. Evid. Eh di sana may sweldo ako. May I invite you to watch?). The trial began in August 1995 before Paraaque RTC Judge Amelita Tolentino. SC acquits Hubert Webb, 6 others in Vizconde massacre Similar to the Vizconde case, the five accused made a defence of alibi claiming that they were somewhere else on June 13, 1996 when the murder of Abadilla happened. Vizconde Massacre: The hidden Truth - Facebook Episode on July 5, 2011 Tuesday after Saksi! Therefore, the SCs rejection of Villamaras opinion demonstrates a fundamental contradiction to its September 7 decision on the Abadilla case. 121234 Hubert Webb et al. [2][3] Estrellita Vizconde, 49, suffered thirteen stab wounds; Carmela Vizconde, 19, suffered seventeen stab wounds and had been raped before she was killed; and Anne Marie Jennifer, 6, had nineteen stab wounds. I found this As of yesterday, police had arrested and filed criminal charges against six fraternity members suspected to have beaten to death John Matthew Salilig in a twisted concept ofbrotherhood. [58] George, a drug dealer, claimed he was introduced to Webb by former SPO1 Gerardo Biong sometime in April 1991 where the young Webb allegedly purchased from him 10grams of shabu worth P10,000. Alejos testimonies in open court were also not consistent to what he had said to the police investigators immediately after the murder. The Vizconde Massacre: God, Help Us! (1993) - IMDb The unconstitutionality of prior restraint. Footnote: This article comprises the text of a statement issued by the Asian Human Rights Commission, AHRC-STM-266-2010, dated 21 December 2010. Webb wanted Alfaro, the then-girlfriend of one of the accused men, Peter Estrada, to join them because Estrellita Vizconde only allowed her daughter to go out and entertain female visitors. Since I was introduced to The STAR readers in the front page, Ill hit the ground running. Fax: +(852) 2698 6367, Copyright 2023 Asian Human Rights Commission. True Crime. Both the SC and the CA affirmed the RTCs sentence of guilty verdict without applying the test on the credibility of a witness as they did in Vizconde case. Vizconde said his quest for justice was continuing despite the end of the prescription period for the prosecution of his familys killers. Hell never return to the Philippines, said the Thai tourist whose cash was filched by Manila airport security personnel. Besides the horror itself, the suspected perpetrators included high-society figures. White was mistaken in saying that Gatchalian and company went in and out of the gated community many times, since they only entered once. Hello friends! Lauro Vizconde on Thursday marks the 20th anniversary of the murders of his wife and two daughters at his residence in BF Homes, Paraaque City. Webbs son, Hubert Jeffrey, is also the brother of a television host, Pinky, in one of the largest television networks in the country. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Vizconde said he was optimistic about finding more witnesses.. The case remained unsolved for almost four years until eyewitness, Jessica Alfaro Testified that Hubert Webb is the lead suspect and responsible of the crime committed. Estrellita, 47, had suffered thirteen stab wounds; Carmela, 18, had suffered seventeen stab wounds and had been raped before she was killed; and Jennifer, 7, had nineteen stab . Police assets are often criminals themselves. Credibility of a witness: In Vizconde case not credible, but credible in the Abadilla case. Envy aliens who can avoid PH; pity Pinoys who are stuck here. For those who havent heard aboutIsumbong, the public service program started at Radyo Veritas on June 1, 1991. Alfaro testified that as Webb followed Carmela into the dining room, she decided to step outside for a smoke. He and six others spent 15 years in jail. The Supreme Court acquitted them on Dec. 14, 2010. On April 28, 1995, National Bureau of Investigations asset and self-confessed drug user Jessica Alfaro came forward to police authorities to shed light on the killing of the Vizconde family. I got my style of writing when I was a reporter, news writer and newsreader on radio during the pre-martial law era, and as a deskman and feature writer of the Philippines News Agency (PNA). The film claims to have been based on new evidence from the then-ongoing trial. On the contrary, it reopens it. 176389 / G.R. The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) wishes to draw the attention of the Supreme Court (SC) of the Philippines to its recent decision on two well-known cases tried in the lower courts; the conviction in the Vizconde Massacre case was overturned while that of the Abadilla murder case was affirmed. It cautioned itself from accepting the testimonies of witnesses without applying these tests. 176864. The people urging President Rodrigo Digong Duterte to run for vice president in the 2022 elections are making fun of him. Allan (surname intentionally omitted), stepfather of a 16-year-old girl who was nearly raped by a neighbor, went with his daughter to the police station in San Jose, Batangas recently to file a complaint. After the Mass, VACC founding chair Dante Jimenez urged Congress to initiate impeachment proceedings against the seven Supreme Court justices who either voted to acquit Webb and coaccused or abstained from voting last December. April 28, 1995 Jessica Alfaro presents herself as a witness and accuses Hubert Webb. Still seeking justice for his family's grim fate, Lauro Vizconde exhausts all resources available to him. She admitted to knowing Webb and company but denied knowledge of the Vizconde massacre, NBI Death Investigation Division head Romulo Asis said. According to Rivera, Sacaguing was never part of the NBI team assigned to investigate the Vizconde massacre and that his former colleague took Alfaro's statement in April 1995 without the presence of a lawyer. That's all crap! [2] Lauro Vizconde, Estrellita's husband and the father of Carmela and Jennifer, was in the United States on business when the murders took place. [2] Tolentino said the certificates issued by the US Immigration and Naturalization Service and the Philippine Bureau of Immigration "could have easily been obtained by the powerful Webb family". Several jeepney drivers groups have called for an unprecedented one-week strike next week to demand extension of the deadline for phasing out traditional vehicles and replacing them with modern It will take over 200 years for women to be at par with men, a news report from Davos said. Even if we were denied justice, I consoled them that at least people already know what really happened, he said. Im still hoping for a miracle to happen. Nos. No. [48] Other witnesses say Webb was in the Philippines at the time of the murders. She said the US-based defense witnesses, most of whom are relatives or friends of the Webb family suffered from "incorrigible and selective memory syndrome". Birrer said she had accompanied Biong to the Vizconde house to destroy the evidence and to retrieve Webb's jacket and the murder weapon. There was entry of (former senator) Freddie Webb leaving the country in March 1991 but no Hubert Webb, De Lima said. A news report on Thursday in Business Mirror that headlined Senate grills defense brass on plans for EDCA expansion, sites raised much curiosity for its sheer lack of detailed information. Knowing this, I cannot but hesitate to swallow everything that Alejo said at the trial. Nephews had posted a banner declaring Truth prevails 20 years after and demanding Final justice for the Vizconde massacre victims, in apparent reference to government probers claims that, contrary to his alibi, released murder convict Hubert Webb never left the country. We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Only minor cases, like oral defamation and quarrel between neighbors, are handled by the barangay. On December 14, 2010, the SC rendered its decision on the appeals of the accused, questioning the guilty verdict by the RTC and the CA. Equal protection of the law is fundamental in the countrys Constitution. [11], The defense produced documents and presented 95 witnesses, including Hubert Webb himself and his father, along with other relatives and friends to support Webb's alibi that he was in the United States from March 9, 1991, to October 26, 1992. The High Court put to question the quality of the testamentary evidence furnished by the witnesses. [17], On January 6, 2000, Judge Tolentino rendered her decision, finding Hubert Webb, Peter Estrada, Hospicio Fernandez, Michael Gatchalian, Antonio Lejano II and Miguel Rodriguez guilty beyond reasonable doubt of the crime of rape with homicide. But Justice Conchita Carpio Morales, who concurred with the decision, wrote strongly against basing judgement on conjectures: Facts decide cases. G.R. 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Who does forget the heart-crushing 1991 Visconde massacre, with Jessica Alfaro standing as the star witness, whistle-blowing the details how these young men before, coming from our society's influential families, killed Mang Lauro's wife and his two daughters. There was only one vital witness for the prosecution, Freddie Alejo. [139] Against positive evidence, alibi becomes most unsatisfactory. [57] The witnesses include an electrician, a drug dealer, a couple of neighborhood basketball players, a hairdresser and a village security guard. The Vizconde massacre revisited | ABS-CBN News They were victims of gory murder; Carmela was raped before she was killed. In the Vizconde case, the SC does not accept conjecture as the basis of its decision. The court argued that the cited case has been superseded by Arizona v. Youngblood, "where the U.S. Supreme Court held that due process does not require the State to preserve the semen specimen although it might be useful to the accused unless the latter is able to show bad faith on the part of the prosecution or the police". G/F, 52 Princess Margaret Road The remains of his wife and daughters were also exhumed from their grave at Holy Cross Memorial Park in Quezon City and transferred to his grave. Therefore, the applications of the SC on evaluating the defence of alibi of the accused have not been equally applied in these two cases. The court ruled that Alfaro was "a stool pigeon, one who earned her living by fraternizing with criminals so she could squeal on them to her NBI handlers." Vizconde massacre. [12] (Under Philippine law, generally, alibi is the weakest defense, especially where there is direct testimony of an eyewitness, duly corroborated by another. No. Nephews had posted a banner declaring "Truth prevails 20 years after" and demanding "Final justice for the Vizconde massacre victims," in apparent reference to government probers' claims . Democrito Barcenas, former Integrated Bar of the Philippines Cebu City president and regional coordinator of the Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG): I think that most of the justices are right in their decision. This is despite questions to his credibility for receiving money and enjoying privileges while he was in Abadillas custody and the existence of inconsistencies in his testimonies in open court. [56] According to De Lima, all the new witnesses passed the polygraph test. He also ordered the Secretary of Justice Leila de Lima to study the possibility of giving compensation to Webb and others. Subscribe to INQUIRER PLUS to get access to The Philippine Daily Inquirer & other 70+ titles, share up to 5 gadgets, listen to the news, download as early as 4am & share articles on social media. During the trial, accused Webb made a defence of alibi claiming that he was in the United States when the massacre of the Vizcondes happened. The men were released on Dec. 14 last year, after the Supreme Court dismissed the testimony of star witness Jessica Alfaro against Webb. [60] De Lima believed Dong Villadolid is the same person as Dong Ventura, one of the co-accused who fled to the US following the massacre. It was hard to tell which made up the truth and the lies. [6], Alfaro's testimony coincided with the angle that was being explored by Supt. [2] Two of the accused remain fugitives from the law: Joey Filart and Artemio Ventura. December 14, 2010:http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2010/december2010/176389.htm The Villadolid brothers were mentioned by a certain Rhoda Pujanes alias Dang, who claimed she overheard Villadolid and his friends, including Miguel Rodriguez and Michael Gatchalian (both co-accused of Webb), talking about the massacre during a pot session in 1991. After she finished the laundry, she went to the servant's quarters. "[29], The court maintained that for a person to be convicted there should not be "a reasonable, lingering doubt as to his guilt." The court said that Alfaro was not a credible witness and that her "story of what she personally saw must be believable, not inherently contrived". The CA in effect crafted and formulated the conjectures giving them the appreciation similar to facts offered as evidence where it had based the judgment. The RTC, however, acquitted Delos Santos despite being positively identified also by Alejo as one of those who was present at the crime scene. 5. De Lima also said seven new witnesses claimed they saw Webb in the country during the months of April, May and June 1991. Webb was the prime suspect of the infamous homicide that occurred on June 30, 1991. By continuing, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. The filming location took place in the actual home of the Vizconde's where the massacre took place on June 30, 1991. [49], On January 4, 2011, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said suspect Joey Filart was spotted in the United States. Aug 5, 2008. By her account, after a drug session with the group, Webb allegedly had hatched his plan to rape Carmela Vizconde. Webb's reliance on the presumption of regularity of official functions, stressing the fact that the US-INS certifications are official documents, is misplaced. Acting solely on Alfaros testimony, the Department of Justice (DoJ) filed charges of rape with homicide against the eight accused on August 1995. [61], The findings also point to another set of suspects, namely Dong Villadolid and his brother Bing. The politician would only be allowed by the spouse to run if the party that this politician will join can come up with a big amount for their family. Vizconde massacre case: Back to square one | ABS-CBN News The lead suspect was Hubert Webb whose father, Freddie Webb was famous as an actor, former basketball player, and Paraaque congressman at the time of the murders. She did not show up at the NBI as a spontaneous witness (only after four years) bothered by her conscience. From there she allegedly saw Lejano and Ventura take a knife from the kitchen drawer, while the rest of the gang acted as lookouts. The court rejected his testimony because he was a disgruntled witness. 1. The Murder of an Entire Family While Dad Was Abroad for Work Villarama noted that the alleged Passport, Passenger Manifest of United Airlines Flight and United Airline ticket of accused Webb offered in evidence were mere photocopies of an alleged original, which were never presented. The court also said that it was "possible for Alfaro to lie" on the details of the case. Nine years later, still no clarity on EDCA sites. She was the prosecutions worst possible choice for a witness. :Isumbongwill make a comeback on PTV-4 on June 12, 2021. The SC also held that it was possible for Alfaro to know the details about the Vizconde killings because she had prior access to the details that the investigators knew of the case. Webb's testimony was also contradicted by other US-based defense witnesses who said they usually saw him "going to the beach, malling, bar-hopping or playing basketball. MANILA, Philippines - A former policeman who was jailed for allegedly tampering with evidence in the 1991 Vizconde massacre insists he is innocent of any crime after being released from prison Tuesday. [18], In her decision, Tolentino described the testimony of defense witnesses as full of inconsistencies and biased. al, 1995, G.R. . Early Thursday, Lauro Vizconde went to Holy Cross Memorial Park and laid bouquets of roses on the tombs of his wife and daughters. Tel: +(852) 2698 6339 It was also not true that there was no showing that he (Alejo) was actuated by improper motive to testify falsely against the accused because the defence had since been challenging his credibility during the trial. This is a violation of the duty of state." But Custodio admits this may be easier said than done. Be consoled that the truth will always come out, Hernandez advised Vizconde. Yes, but what can I do (?). ", The victims of the massacre (from left to right): Jennifer, Carmela, and Estrellita Vizconde, "The Vizconde massacre: Justice not served", "Lauro Vizconde to be buried in same grave with family Wednesday", "Manila Standard Google News Archive Search", "The Manila Times Internet Edition SPECIAL REPORT > Questions linger in Vizconde case", The Philippine Daily Inquirer, December 31, 2010, "Philippine Daily Inquirer Google News Archive Search", "NBI exec: We've turned over semen specimen from Vizconde girl to court", "2 SC justices asked to go on leave pending Vizconde decision", "SC sues for time, defers ruling on Vizconde case", Philippine Daily Inquirer, SC Acquits Webb et al, "Supreme Court decision on Webb et al re Vizconde Massacre", Lauro Vizconde in tears, Webbs on 'cloud nine', Gary, Kris speak up on Hubert's acquittal, Outrage over decision, sympathy for Vizconde, Ruling raises more questions, lawyers point out, Vizconde kin question why Webb was released so quickly, Alfaro unwilling to testifying anew in Vizconde case Jessica Alfaro stands by story, Criminal law experts umalma sa pag-absuwelto ng SC kay Webb, Ex-VP Guingona to SC: Reverse Webb's acquittal to give justice to Vizconde, "Another 'Joey Filart' still under detention", "New Vizconde massacre witnesses surface", New witnesses to prove Webb in PH during Vizconde massacre, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Hubert Webb seeks P180K compensation for 'unlawful' conviction, NBI, PNP teams probe 3 sets of Vizconde slay suspects, Vizconde massacre has new set of witnesses, Evidence, witnesses 'shatter' Webb alibi: task force, DoJ chief: No credible proof of Webb in crime scene, De Lima hints at explosive breakthrough in Vizconde probe. "[29] In general, the court said that Alfaro's story "lacks sense or suffers from inherent inconsistencies. Like Herbas, court records had also shown that Alejo has been receiving money and free accommodation from the Abadillas. Secondly, Alfaros quality as a witness and her inconsistent, if not inherently unbelievable, testimony cannot be the positive identification that jurisprudence acknowledges as sufficient. 176864 People of the Philippines vs. Hubert Webb, et. Among those present were former Vice President Teofisto Guingona; Arsenio Boy Evangelista, father of carjack victim Venson Evangelista; Dacer-Corbito witness Cezar Mancao and his lawyer Ferdinand Topacio; and members of the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC). For example, it rejected as not impartial the corroborating testimony of Augusto Santoss brother-in-law that he was at the hospital with him when Abadilla was murdered. "[21], In April 2010, the Supreme Court approved DNA testing to be performed on the semen specimen obtained during autopsy from Carmela Vizconde. 2. February 26, 2021. . Herbas and Alejo worked for the Abadillas as security guards. ABADILLA MURDER CASE: This case is about the murder of Rolando Abadilla, a police colonel during Marcos regime, at 8:30 on June 13, 1996 at the Katipunan Avenue, Quezon City. CONCLUSION: The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is deeply concerned by this unequal application of jurisprudence by the SC on the Abadilla murder and the Vizconde massacre. Massacre era | PEP.ph Movie producers and directors rode the wave of public outcry by creating true-to-life films based on such heinous crimes. 3. They cannot be the bases of conviction as they cannot substitute for the constitutional requirement of proof of guilt beyond reasonable doubt. Kaya laban lang tayo. The term dirty politics is appropriate for that kind of set-up. I will kill you, brandishing a shiny revolver. Corona." The NBI is a special investigating body attached to the DoJ. No acquittal has been made as to the two accused, Filart and Ventura, who remain at-large. People cried for justice for the Vizcondes and one of the suspects was Hubert Webb, son of then Paraaque congressman Freddie Webb, who later became a senator. The Vizconde Massacre was the multiple homicide of members of the Vizconde family on June 30, 1991 at their residence in BF Homes, Paraaque, Metro Manila, Philippines. Hubert Webb of Vizconde Massacre Freed- Breaking News - theAsianparent [2][20], The court ruled that the Paraaque RTC was correct in sentencing Webb et al. Vizconde murders - Wikipedia After reading about how responsive Secretary Benhur Abalos is to matters raised by the media, some members of the PNP, particularly in the province of Iloilo, have shared through channels about their operational Local producers wont like it, but it looks like in the near future, there will be a flood of imported agricultural commodities. The Vizconde massacre has been dubbed as the trial of the century as the accused hailed from prominent families of the Philippines. The women were found dead with multiple stab wounds and no witnesses, murder weapons or motive have been uncovered. She also said that Bing was accosting Ging Rodriguez on why he had to stab and kill a young girl. Anyone can be paid! [13][14], Other prosecution witnesses were: Carlos J. Cristobal who alleged that on March 9, 1991, he was a passenger of United Airlines Flight No. No. Methinks one year would give Eleazar ample time impose his brand of discipline on one of the most undisciplined police forces in the world. ), Moreover, Judge Tolentino also denied Webb's request to subject semen samples to DNA testing on the belief that the samples may no longer be intact. After 15 years behind bars, Hubert Webb and 5 others in the Vizconde massacre case (Manila-Philippines) were released from prison on Tuesday. All of these had been applied in acquitting the accused in the Vizconde case, which is contradictory to its earlier decision affirming the conviction of the Abadilla Five. 185123/G.R. Alfaro accused Hubert Webb, son of former senator Freddie Webb, as the mastermind of the massacre, along with five other men, all coming from prominent families. The 47-year-old Estrellita had 13 stab wounds. Both Webb and del Toro could not describe in court what Hubert's work was, Tolentino said. I will be conferring with my lawyers about my future moves.. [29], In his dissenting opinion, Justice Villarama argued that the claim of Webb that he could not have committed the crime because he left for the United States on March 9, 1991, and returned to the Philippines only on October 26, 1992, was correctly rejected by the Regional Trial Court and Court of Appeals.
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