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. VIZCONDE MASSACRE CASE: This case is about the gang rape and murder of a 19-year-old woman, the murder of her 7-year-old sister and their mother on June 30, 1991 at their home in Paranaque City, Metro Manila. The NBI is a special investigating body attached to the DoJ. She took advantage of her familiarity with these details to include in her testimony. VIZCONDE MASSACRE CASE: This case is about the gang rape and murder of a 19-year-old woman, the murder of her 7-year-old sister and their mother on June 30, 1991 at their home in Paranaque City, Metro Manila. [50], On January 18, 2011, the Supreme Court denied Lauro Vizconde's motion to reverse the acquittal because of double jeopardy. 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. : Directed by Carlo J. Caparas. On October 1, 1996, Judge Amelita Tolentino admitted only 10 of the 142 pieces of evidence the defense presented. They are Lenido Lumanog, Augusto Santos, Senior Police Officer 2 (SPO2) Cesar Fortuna, Rameses de Jesus and Joel de Jesus. The CA held that these ballistic results are inconclusive and can never prevail over appellants positive identification by eyewitness Freddie Alejo. Evid. The 3 sets of suspects are: the Barroso Akyat-Bahay gang; the group of construction workers with engineer Danilo Agwas tagged as mastermind; SPO3 Angel Viaje, PO3 Rodolfo Colado, Ruben Pineda; and, the group of Hubert Webb. When we die, that is when we will be given the whole truth May the Lord console you in all your afflictions, The priest said. One of the justices, Roberto Abad, who dissented the majority decision affirming the guilty verdict wrote: the public prosecutor chose instead to allow the Abadillas, who had an interest in Alejos testimony, to make him dependent on them for his livelihood at least for the duration of the trial of the case. Webb presented certifications from the U.S. Immigration but he failed to submit as evidence in court the original copy of his passport with immigration entry stamped on it. They cannot be the bases of conviction as they cannot substitute for the constitutional requirement of proof of guilt beyond reasonable doubt. The presumption leaned on is disputable and can be overcome by evidence to the contrary. Fax: +(852) 2698 6367, Copyright 2023 Asian Human Rights Commission. [19], The Court of Appeals' Third Division voted 32 to deny Webb's motion for reconsideration and upheld the ruling of Judge Tolentino on December 16, 2005. The most significant topic that Ive ever written about and which I personally got involved in was the Vizconde massacre. Under the law, prosecutors of a murder case are given 20 years from the time it occurred or the time it was discovered to identify suspects and charge them in court. 16:53. [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. On SPO2 Cesar Fortuna, the RTC, the CA and the SC, accepted the fact that he was at Camp Crame, but the SC affirmed the RTC and the CAs conjecture that it was not impossible for him to have gone to Katipunan road, Blue Ridge, which is relatively near Camp Crame when the shooting happened around 8.40 in the morning. The Supreme Court acquitted them on Dec. 14, 2010. The story of the Vizconde Massacre wasn't just a single story; it varied as told by a number of witnesses. 3. He and six others spent 15 years in jail. Alejos testimonies in open court were also not consistent to what he had said to the police investigators immediately after the murder. A lying witness can make as positive an identification as a truthful witness can. 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. [22], On October 8, 2010, Webb filed an urgent motion for acquittal. Alfaro could not possibly prove the relationship between Hubert and Carmela, as they were strangers to each other, and Alfaro also could not have possibly identified the other accused because all of them were strangers to her. You are just a few clicks away from making All rights are reserved. On August 11, 1999, the Regional Trial Court of Quezon City acquitted two of them and convicted the five others, now collectively known as the Abadilla Five. A police officer, Gerardo Biong, has also been charged for destroying the evidence at the crime scene. Firstly, the SC held Alfaro was not a credible witness. 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. vs. People of the Philippines et al., 1997, G.R. Francisco Kit Hernandez celebrated Mass. Includes gruesome real photos from the crime scene. For example, the prosecutor, instead of admitting Alejo to the WPP during trial, rather chose instead to allow the Abadillas, who had an interest in Alejos testimony, to make him dependent on them for his livelihood at least for the duration of the trial of the case. [61], The findings also point to another set of suspects, namely Dong Villadolid and his brother Bing. 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. She observed Hubert was quite irritated, uneasy, and walked to and fro inside his room. [51] On March 18, Hubert Webb filed a lawsuit against Jessica Alfaro for false testimony at the Paraaque Prosecutor's Office. I will kill you, brandishing a shiny revolver. Lauro Vizconde the husband of Estrellita and father of Carmela and Jennifer, was in the United State on business when the murders took place. [29] 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). By continuing to browse the site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Cabanacan said Webb had entered the subdivision (where the Vizconde house was located) a few days before the massacre and that he even identified himself as the son of then Congressman Webb. The court also said that if Webb was in the U.S. when the crime was committed, the Alfaro's testimony would not hold together: "Without it, the evidence against the others must necessarily fall. [48] Other witnesses say Webb was in the Philippines at the time of the murders. Connections Followed by The Untold Story: Vizconde Massacre II - May the Lord Be with Us! [47], On December 28, 2010, new witnesses have come forward accusing Hubert Webb and others of allegedly being behind the Vizconde massacre. InVizconde case: The SC has given weight to the importance of forensic evidence in a court trial. On the contrary, it reopens it. But feeling uneasy, she decided to go up to the stockroom near Hubert's room to see what he was doing. Night of June 2930, 1991 Estrellita, Carmela and Jennifer Vizconde were killed in their Paraaque home; Carmela was found to have been raped. White was mistaken in saying that Gatchalian and company went in and out of the gated community many times, since they only entered once. [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". Alfaro, upon explaining on how the house was ransacked, (the Paraaque police had earlier blamed house robbers as suspects), said that Ventura was looking for the front-door key and the car key. The women were found dead with multiple stab wounds and no witnesses, murder weapons or motive have been uncovered. Based on the infamous and seemingly never ending 1991 Vizconde murder case in the Philippines where a woman and her two children; a teen daughter who was also raped and a 6-year-old, were all viciously stabbed to death while the husband was away in America on business. Lorenzo delos Santos was acquitted due to lack of evidence, but the RTC, the CA and the SC ignored that fact that the same positive identification it invoked in convicting the Abadilla Five came from exactly the same testimonies that have been used to acquit Delos Santos. 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. G/F, 52 Princess Margaret Road Don't miss out on the latest news and information. 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". [55], On June 28, 2011, Justice Secretary Leila De Lima said Hubert Webb was in the Philippines when the murders took place. At any rate, Rameses de Jesus admitted that they were using the new car of Lenido Lumanog. [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. On the acquittal of Lorenzo delos Santos, the accused whom Alejo had also positively identified, it ruled that his acquittal did not damage Alejos credibility; and his positive identification of the accused. The SC rendered its judgment on the Abadilla case on September 7 and on the Vizconde case on December 14 of this year [2010]. Equal protection of the law is fundamental in the countrys Constitution. A local elected official whos being groomed to run for a national office is being sold to the highest bidder by the politicians spouse. 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. Nos. It was based on the rule of the minority and not the majority as they (the SC justices) had enunciated in Fortich v. May I invite you to watch?). Ateneo law professor Alan Paguia: "The order of release is questionable as it appears to be undemocratic. The court rejected his testimony because he was a disgruntled witness. The Vizconde murders remained unsolved for almost four years, until eyewitness Jessica Alfaro, a self-confessed former drug addict, came forward on April 28, 1995, to shed light on the massacre. 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. As to the failure to present the forensic evidence and its subsequent loss, the SC held: the semen specimen taken from Carmela cannot possibly lie. This is a violation of the duty of state." But Custodio admits this may be easier said than done. 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. This site uses cookies. 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. In the Philippines in 1992, the Vizconde Massacre, which saw the murder of multiple women who had been stabbed to death, created an investigation full of problems. TRUTH OUT, HEALING BEGINS. [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. 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. 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. Alejo had been under the Abadillas custody and protection instead of that of the WPP of the government. The NBI is the agency responsible in providing security and protection of witnesses admitted under WPP. I can't express enough how sad and unjust today's story. 182555/G.R. 'Ms. In a 38-page strongly-worded decision promulgated on Tuesday, the . Both Webb and del Toro could not describe in court what Hubert's work was, Tolentino said. 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. About the Show; You May Also Like . [30], In three separate occasions, police authorities mistakenly arrested persons they believed to be suspect Joey Filart: a namesake in August 1995, the same person again in February 2000, and a person from Compostela Valley in March 2000. 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. Webb was the prime suspect of the infamous homicide that occurred on June 30, 1991. Many of the stories in my columns in previous newspapers were complaints from citizens. September 7, 2010http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2010/september2010/182555.htm The CA rather held that positive and unequivocal declaration is sufficient to support a conviction which was affirmed by the SC. Former Paraaque City cop Gerardo Biong walked free from the New Bilibid Prisons (NBP) in Muntinlupa City after serving a 12-year sentence. Credibility of a witness: In Vizconde case not credible, but credible in the Abadilla case. Eh di sana may sweldo ako. This page was last edited on 8 February 2023, at 03:37. 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. But big offenses, such as rape or attempted rape, should be filed with the police or the prosecutors office. 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. To find out more, please click this link. I was a barbarian in my college years at the University of the Philippines. He alleged that he could not forget Webb because Biong had allegedly threatened him, Do not cheat him. [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. "[29], The court held that security guard Normal E. White, Jr.'s testimony was unreliable. 124871, May 13, 2004. After 15 years behind bars, Hubert Webb and 5 others in the Vizconde massacre case (Manila-Philippines) were released from prison on Tuesday. It was Alejo who had positively identified Joel and Lorenzo (delos Santos) during a police line-up. 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. But Justice Conchita Carpio Morales, who concurred with the decision, wrote strongly against basing judgement on conjectures: Facts decide cases. It cautioned itself from accepting the testimonies of witnesses without applying these tests. The filming location took place in the actual home of the Vizconde's where the massacre took place on June 30, 1991. 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. 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. The film claims to have been based on new evidence from the then-ongoing trial. Estrellita, Carmela and Jennifer Vizconde. But Villaramas opinion was not considered by the SC in their majority decision. Early Thursday, Lauro Vizconde went to Holy Cross Memorial Park and laid bouquets of roses on the tombs of his wife and daughters. He then hurled the little girl to a wall and started stabbing her. This is one of the most controversial and widely publicised massacre cases because of the involvement of the son of a former Philippine . This contradicted Hubert Webb's claim that he was in the United States from March 9, 1991, to October 27, 1992. The prosecution did not present him as their witness during the trial. Hong Kong The people urging President Rodrigo Digong Duterte to run for vice president in the 2022 elections are making fun of him. It took the trial and appeal process in this case fifteen years. By her account, after a drug session with the group, Webb allegedly had hatched his plan to rape Carmela Vizconde. The SC identified the inconsistencies and the incredible facts in Alfaros testimony: her claim that Hubert Jeffrey Webb and Carmela Vizconde had a relationship; that Carmela had another lover whom she met just before Hubert came to her home and that she saw in open the five other accused taking turns in raping Carmela. ), Among evidence that was not admitted by Judge Tolentino, was the note verbale from the United States Embassy in Manila claiming that Webb entered the United States in March 1991 and left in October 1992. Abadilla Case Petition for Review on Certiorario:http://campaigns.ahrchk.net/abadilla5/docs/A5-FinalAppealPetition.pdf 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. No. She had been hanging around that agency for sometime as a stool pigeon, one paid for mixing up with criminals and squealing on them. Suspicions, no matter how strong they are, must never sway judgment. The SC required this test as necessary before a testimony of positive identification could be accepted as credible and with merit. Like Alejo, Herbas also at first instance identified Joel de Jesus as one of the gunmen during a police line-up but later withdraw his statement in open court. The Vizconde massacre, dubbed the crime of the 20th century, was my defining moment as a columnist and defender of the oppressed and those. Let the love of God prevail. It defended the attack on Alejos credibility, for example, his inconsistencies on the number of gunmen, arguing that this had already been explained by Alejo during cross-examination by correcting his earlier statement and that the affidavits, being ex-parte, are almost always incomplete and often inaccurate, but do not really detract from the credibility of witnesses. Carpio testified for the defense during the trial. For those who havent heard aboutIsumbong, the public service program started at Radyo Veritas on June 1, 1991. [24] This was categorically denied by the Supreme Court as Justice Carpio had in fact recused himself from the case and was not going to take part in the deliberation. [60], Although Webb's group can no longer be retried because of double jeopardy, De Lima said the purpose of the reinvestigation was to uncover the truth and bring closure to Lauro Vizconde.[65][66]. The term dirty politics is appropriate for that kind of set-up. 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. She cited the testimony of Alex del Toro, husband of Webb's relative, who said he hired Hubert Webb as an employee at his pesticide company in California. It held that a positive declaration from a witness that he saw the accused commit the crime should not automatically cancel out the accuseds claim that he did not do it. References: No acquittal has been made as to the two accused, Filart and Ventura, who remain at-large. Thus, it was not surprising for Alfaro to testify with great details in court. Jennifer woke up and, seeing Webb violating her sister, jumped on him and bit him. The court said the "portion of Alfaro's story appears tortured to accommodate the physical evidence of the ransacked house" adding that "it is a story made to fit in with the crime scene although robbery was supposedly not the reason Webb and his companions entered that house". I will continue to play that role as long as I live. [8] If, on examination, the DNA of the subject specimen does not belong to Webb, then he did not rape Carmela. Apart from Alejo, earlier there was another witness, Merlito Herbas. After the shooting, he could have easily and quickly transferred to Camp Crame between 9:00 and 9:30 in the morning. June 14, 1993 - Vizconde Massacre solved; 'brains,' three others fall Police finish investigation of the Vizconde case with the arrest of the suspected mastermind and three other suspects,. Justice Villarama argued that a photocopy of Webbs passport in court to support his alibi and the testimonies of witnesses, mostly his relatives and friends, could not be given merit, by cautioning his fellow justices that it can be gleaned from the fact that passports and plane tickets indicating dates of arrival and departure do not necessarily prove that the very same person actually took the flight and added that indeed, alibi cannot be sustained where it is not only without credible corroboration, but also where it does not, on its face, demonstrate the physical impossibility of the accuseds presence at the place and time of the commission of the crime. Philstar Global Corp. All Rights Reserved. From there she allegedly saw Lejano and Ventura take a knife from the kitchen drawer, while the rest of the gang acted as lookouts. On April this year, the Webbs filed an urgent motion to acquit when they found out that the NBI no longer has custody of the specimen that was taken from the body of the rape victim, Carmela Visconde.
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