The Supreme Court acquitted them on Dec. 14, 2010. [15] The accused alleged that by rejecting 132 of the 142 pieces of evidence, Tolentino had set the tone for their conviction. It cannot be coached or allured by a promise of reward or financial support. [23] On November 26, 2010, Lauro Vizconde voiced his concern to media about the purported lobbying of Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio for the reversal of the guilty verdict. This site uses cookies. Vizconde Massacre Case Digest - Philippine True Crime Stories | Martin Rules. I went to the US to check on senator Webbs allegations I paid for my fare and accommodation, by the way and found that, indeed, Hubert was there when the Vizconde women were being butchered at their home in Paraaque. With the exception of Filart and Ventura who had been convicted in absentia the men were acquitted by the Supreme Court on December 14, 2010 for failure of the prosecution to prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt. Therefore, the SCs rejection of Villamaras opinion demonstrates a fundamental contradiction to its September 7 decision on the Abadilla case. ", Jessica Alfaro: Alfaro's e-mail from abroad read. Sison was ordered to desist from further investigating that angle by then Philippine National Police Capital Region Commander Marino Filart after six members of akyat bahay gang (burglars) were arrested by Regional Police Unit in October 1991. There was only one vital witness for the prosecution, Freddie Alejo. The SC required this test as necessary before a testimony of positive identification could be accepted as credible and with merit. 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. Executive M/Sgt. But her parents did not allow her to go. The massacre and surrounding events were depicted in the 1993 film The Vizconde Massacre Story (God Help Us!) Copyright 2023. InAbadilla case: Both the RTC and the CA did not apply this test of credibility of a witness before accepting the testimony of Alejo. The men were released on Dec. 14 last year, after the Supreme Court dismissed the testimony of star witness Jessica Alfaro against Webb. 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. 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. 2. Alfaro, who had "practically lived" at the NBI's offices, would have been able to hear about the details, and gain access to the documents, without difficulty. G.R. Therefore, the applications of the SC on evaluating the defence of alibi of the accused have not been equally applied in these two cases. Lauro Vizconde: "Is there still anyone among you who doubts that there is rampant corruption in our government? I would not have ended up like this if you had not neglected me). The details of how they were killed were grim. The High Court put to question the quality of the testamentary evidence furnished by the witnesses. Alfaro testified that as Webb followed Carmela into the dining room, she decided to step outside for a smoke. The filming location took place in the actual home of the Vizconde's where the massacre took place on June 30, 1991. Knowing this, I cannot but hesitate to swallow everything that Alejo said at the trial. G.R. (P.S. Justice Secretary Leila de Lima yesterday said the government task force re-investigating the 1991 Vizconde massacre case has found another witness and was convincing him to come out in public and At about 4 a.m. on June 30, 1991, Gaviola woke up and entered the bedrooms to get the Webb's dirty laundry and wash it as part of her job. 2. Sacaguing broke the guidelines in taking affidavits from witnesses. Call 896 6000. They cannot be the bases of conviction as they cannot substitute for the constitutional requirement of proof of guilt beyond reasonable doubt. Many of the stories in my columns in previous newspapers were complaints from citizens. 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. Carpio testified for the defense during the trial. It took the trial and appeal process in this case fifteen years. 124871, May 13, 2004. The SC rendered its judgment on the Abadilla case on September 7 and on the Vizconde case on December 14 of this year [2010]. The case was featured on a Philippine TV show Case Unclosed as its ninth episode, "Vizconde Massacre Case. [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. 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. Webb had presented the alibi that he was in the United States when the crime was committed, but he was still found guilty by the Paraaque Regional Trial Court. Webbs son, Hubert Jeffrey, is also the brother of a television host, Pinky, in one of the largest television networks in the country. The SCs decision affirming the guilty verdict by the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Quezon City on the Abadilla Five, the five men accused in the murder of police colonel Rolando Abadilla on June 13, 1996, is already the subject of a final appeal filed on October 8, 2010. Webbs co-accused, Antonio Lejano, is a son of a known singer and celebrity. April 28, 1995 Jessica Alfaro presents herself as a witness and accuses Hubert Webb. No. The Vizconde massacre made headlines in the Philippines in the '90s and started a trend in filmmaking. 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. Episode on July 5, 2011 Tuesday after Saksi! 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. The people urging President Rodrigo Digong Duterte to run for vice president in the 2022 elections are making fun of him. He also ordered the Secretary of Justice Leila de Lima to study the possibility of giving compensation to Webb and others. Vizconde said his quest for justice was continuing despite the end of the prescription period for the prosecution of his familys killers. [65] One team uncovered Black Maria, a woman whom one witness said had told him she was with Webb's group inside the Vizconde home and saw the crime take place. [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. Let the love of God prevail. [10] According to the footage of the trial, Alfaro had been able to identify all the defendants by their names. 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. Be consoled that the truth will always come out, Hernandez advised Vizconde. InVizconde case: Jessica Alfaros positive identification was rejected because she did not meet the test of a credible witness and that what she personally saw must be believable, not inherently contrived. 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. [29], For the alibi to be established "the accused must prove by positive, clear, and satisfactory evidence that he was present at another place at the time of the perpetration of the crime, and that it was physically impossible for him to be at the scene of the crime". The story of the Vizconde Massacre wasn't just a single story; it varied as told by a number of witnesses. Unreliability of Jessica Alfaro's testimony: Alfaro had prior knowledge on the facts of the case having been an, Alfaro was not able to explain why the house was ransacked if robbery was not the motive of Webb and his group, Unreliability of testimony from other witnesses, Alfaro's testimony will fall apart if Webb was not at the crime scene and will relieve the others accused of the crime. The other defendants were Antonio Lejano II, Hospicio Fernandez, Michael Gatchalian, Miguel Rodriguez, Peter Estrada, Joey Filart and Artemio Ventura. Both Webb and del Toro could not describe in court what Hubert's work was, Tolentino said. Besides the horror itself, the suspected perpetrators included high-society figures. A police officer, Gerardo Biong, has also been charged for destroying the evidence at the crime scene. No. We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Philstar.com is one of the most vibrant, opinionated, discerning communities of readers on cyberspace. 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. [2][12] Security guards Justo Cabanacan and Normal White. September 7, 2010http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2010/september2010/182555.htm In the Vizconde case, the SC does not accept conjecture as the basis of its decision. :Isumbongwill make a comeback on PTV-4 on June 12, 2021. 150 likes. She admitted to knowing Webb and company but denied knowledge of the Vizconde massacre, NBI Death Investigation Division head Romulo Asis said. Hello friends! Defence of Alibi: In Vizconde case not admissible, in Abadilla case court acted on conjectures. We have ruled that accused-appellant may not invoke the acquittal of the other conspirators to merit the reversal of his conviction for murder. 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. For example, I was the first one to report the shooting of 16-year-old Maureen Hultman and her boyfriend by the son of former chief justice Claudio Teehankee in 1991 in my column at theInquirer, because the girls stepfather, Anders, a Swede, came to myIsumbongoffice at Radyo Veritas. For those who havent heard aboutIsumbong, the public service program started at Radyo Veritas on June 1, 1991. Only minor cases, like oral defamation and quarrel between neighbors, are handled by the barangay. 1. The readers will notice soon enough the brevity of each topic. InAbadilla case: The SC admitted the positive identification of witness Freddie Alejo when it considered him a credible witness. By providing an email address. [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". Am I dismayed by the decision of the (Supreme Court)? [61], The findings also point to another set of suspects, namely Dong Villadolid and his brother Bing. [49], On January 4, 2011, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said suspect Joey Filart was spotted in the United States. I will be conferring with my lawyers about my future moves.. I did that hoping to make them have second thoughts about doing so,.There is no justice in the Philippines. The Vizconde murder case, colloquially known as the Vizconde massacre, was the multiple homicide of members of the Vizconde family on June 30, 1991 at their residence at 80 Vinzons Street, BF Homes, Paraaque, Metro Manila, Philippines.Estrellita Vizconde, 49, suffered thirteen stab wounds; Maria Carmela Vizconde, 19, suffered seventeen stab wounds and had been raped before she was killed . 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. It held that the acquittal of their co-accused does not necessarily benefit the appellants. My program is the originalsumbungan ng bayan sa radyo(roughly, citizens complaint center on radio). Lauro Vizconde the husband of Estrellita and father of Carmela and Jennifer, was in the United State on business when the murders took place. Six months is not enough for him to clean up the Aegean stable that is the PNP. Alfaro also said that she bumped into Biong at the Faces Disco in Makati in March 1995 and relayed to her the offer of the group to give her a free ticket to the United States to shut her up. Fax: +(852) 2698 6367, Copyright 2023 Asian Human Rights Commission. [53], Lauro Vizconde, family patriarch and the founding president of the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption, died on February 13, 2016, at the age of 77. 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". I told my family that I did my best. VIZCONDE MASSACRE: 20 YEARS, TWO FACES OF JUSTICE Report by Maki Pulido It is one of the most controversial cases in the country's history, the most shocking crime in the 90s - the Vizconde Massacre. Since I was introduced to The STAR readers in the front page, Ill hit the ground running. 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. A second movie, The Untold Story: Vizconde Massacre II, was released in 1994. Im still hoping for a miracle to happen. [5] The other defendants were convicted by the Paraaque Regional Trial Court, which the Court of Appeals affirmed. Vizconde Massacre: The hidden Truth. She did not know nor met any of them. While the SC rejected Alfaros testimony being not a credible witness, it held Alejo still a credible witness despite the inconsistencies in his testimony. Among the defense witnesses was Artemio Sacaguing, a former, now deceased NBI official who testified that Alfaro was an NBI asset who only volunteered to assume the role of the eyewitness when she could not produce the actual witness to the Vizconde killings. Sources from the Department of Justice said Webb, who was acquitted by the Supreme Court last December, 2010, was in the country during and after the crime happened in .
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