the truth about vizconde massacre the truth about vizconde massacre

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 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. The passing away of Lauro Vizconde a few days ago does not close the sad chapter on the tragedy known as the Vizconde massacre. Philstar Global Corp. All Rights Reserved. The court noted the inconsistency between Alfaro's testimony of Webb being Carmela's boyfriend, who had no reason in breaking the glass panel of the house's front door to enter the house; Alfaro said that Webb "picked up some stone and, out of the blue, hurled it at the glass-paneled front door". Acting solely on Alfaros testimony, the Department of Justice (DoJ) filed charges of rape with homicide against the eight accused on August 1995. It cannot be coached or allured by a promise of reward or financial support. God does not teach us to retaliate. The case of the Vizconde Massacre took another direction only after four years, when Jessica Alfaro surfaced and became the case's star witness. Given the financial resources and political influence of his family, it was not unlikely that Webb could have traveled back to the Philippines before June 2930, 1991 and then departed for the US again, and returning to the Philippines in October 1992. Their original conviction was capital punishment but their sentence was modified to life imprisonment when the death penalty was abolished. 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. It is said that being elected president is a gift from God. The case was featured on a Philippine TV show Case Unclosed as its ninth episode, "Vizconde Massacre Case. She took advantage of her familiarity with these details to include in her testimony. It strictly laid down these as the least requirement in evaluating the credibility of the claim of positive identification. Firstly, in the Vizconde case, the SC still held as credible the corroborating testimonies of the witnesses favouring Hubert Jeffrey who are mostly his relatives and friends in support of his defence of alibi. As a result, the court reverses the decision of the Court of Appeals, and acquits Webb, et al. Hell never return to the Philippines, said the Thai tourist whose cash was filched by Manila airport security personnel. 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. 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. 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 . Cruz, Manila accompanying his brother-in-law, Jonas Padel Ayhon, whose wife had just given birth; and Rameses de Jesus and Lenido Lumanog had just left Manila for Mabalacat, Pampanga where they stayed until the evening of June 14. 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. 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. While washing Hubert Webb's clothing, Gaviola said she noticed fresh bloodstains on his shirt. 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. 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. The SCs decision in acquitting all the accused in the Vizconde case has fundamental contradictions to its earlier decision affirming the guilty verdict of the accused in the Abadilla case. Therefore, the applications of the SC on evaluating the defence of alibi of the accused have not been equally applied in these two cases. InVizconde case: The SC applied two tests in rejecting the positive identification of Alfaro: firstly, the credibility of a witness; secondly, the testimony should be believable, not inherently contrived. Justo Cabanacan, the security supervisor of the gated community, said that he saw Webb enter the gated community, although he did not record Webb entering in his log book. 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 . The AHRC urges the SC to thoroughly review the pending final appeal of the accused in the Abadilla case. [49], On January 4, 2011, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said suspect Joey Filart was spotted in the United States. 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. The court also amended the award of damages from 100,000 pesos to 200,000 pesos, and also upheld the conviction of Biong as accessory to the crime "by abusing his public functions to conceal and destroy the physical evidence in order to prevent the discovery of the crime and by allowing the destruction of the physical evidence, Biong facilitated the escape of the principal accused. Biong was released from jail on November 30, 2010, after serving his sentence. Herbas and Alejo worked for the Abadillas as security guards. The SC, however, upheld the RTC and the CAs judgement that the defence of alibi of the accused is a weak defense, (and that) for it to prosper, the accused must prove not only that he was at some other place at the time of the commission of the crime, but also, that it was physically impossible for him to be or within its immediate vicinity. 176389 / G.R. To find out more, please click this link. [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]. Hubert Jeffrey Webb sought for an acquittal after he had found out that the NBI could no longer produce the DNA specimen extracted from the cadaver of the rape victim. Her mother, Estrellita, 47, and sister, Jennifer, 7, were also killed. [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". The Vizconde massacre, dubbed the crime of the 20th century, was my defining moment as a columnist and defender of the oppressed and those wrongfully accused. Alibi cannot prevail over the positive identification of a credible witness [140].. The story of the Vizconde Massacre wasn't just a single story; it varied as told by a number of witnesses. Herbas had testified for the defence instead of the prosecution when the Abadilla did not fulfil his promise to give him (Herbas) exactly the same salary he was receiving and when he was told that he would no longer be presented as witness because the testimony of Alejo would be sufficient. [citation needed] (The Philippine Rules of Evidence require official attestation of the authenticity of any public document presented in evidence; as per Sec. The CA held that these ballistic results are inconclusive and can never prevail over appellants positive identification by eyewitness Freddie Alejo. [12] (Under Philippine law, generally, alibi is the weakest defense, especially where there is direct testimony of an eyewitness, duly corroborated by another. Of the 15 Justices, 7 voted for acquittal while four dissented and four Justices, including Carpio, did not participate.[27][28]. Former Paraaque policeman Gerardo Biong was found guilty as an accessory for burning bedsheets and tampering with other evidence in the crime. The prescription period does not matter to me, its just a date, he said. 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. The 47-year-old Estrellita had 13 stab wounds. Early Thursday, Lauro Vizconde went to Holy Cross Memorial Park and laid bouquets of roses on the tombs of his wife and daughters. On June 30, 1991, three Vizconde women Estrellita, 49; her 19-year-old daughter, Carmela and the younger Jennifer, 6 were found dead in their home at BF Homes Village in Paraaque. 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. Alfaro said that when she went back to the house, she saw the bodies of Estrellita and Jennifer on the bed and Webb raping Carmela on the floor. This column will tackle various topics on the days it will come out: Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. I stood my ground because I had all the facts in my hand. I also updated them on the new twist in the investigation. All of us who have cases in court, dont we realize that if your opponent has money, brace yourself. The tapes were restored by IBM while being monitored by the National Computer Center. Their claims were corroborated by witnesses who are disinterested parties, their relatives and friends and documentary evidence. 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. 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. 'Ms. Be consoled that the truth will always come out, Hernandez advised Vizconde. 121234 Hubert Webb et al. June 30, 1991 for a bicycle he bought from a store in Orange County, Los Angeles, California. This is a violation of the duty of state." But Custodio admits this may be easier said than done. Former Paraaque City cop Gerardo Biong walked free from the New Bilibid Prisons (NBP) in Muntinlupa City after serving a 12-year sentence. Conjectures and suspicions are not facts, hence, they have no evidentiary value. She did not know nor met any of them. By her account, after a drug session with the group, Webb allegedly had hatched his plan to rape Carmela Vizconde. It held that the acquittal of their co-accused does not necessarily benefit the appellants. 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. A police officer, Gerardo Biong, has also been charged for destroying the evidence at the crime scene. Even if we were denied justice, I consoled them that at least people already know what really happened, he said. Executive M/Sgt. Alfaro had testified that she knew the suspects and was at the Vizconde house when the crime was committed. 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. [18], In her decision, Tolentino described the testimony of defense witnesses as full of inconsistencies and biased. LYN RILLON. He also claimed to have heard Hubert shout, Putang ina nyo! 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. Still seeking justice for his family's grim fate, Lauro Vizconde exhausts all resources available to him. [11], Alfaro's testimony was corroborated by other witnesses including: Lolita Birrer, a former live-in partner of policeman Gerardo Biong, who narrated the manner of how Biong investigated and tried to cover up the crime. The Vizconde massacre has been dubbed as the trial of the century as the accused hailed from prominent families of the Philippines. It was Alejo who had positively identified Joel and Lorenzo (delos Santos) during a police line-up. 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". Police assets are often criminals themselves. When she could not produce the person, Sacaguing continued to press her saying that she might as well assume the role of her informant.. Evid. Six months is not enough for him to clean up the Aegean stable that is the PNP. They were sentenced to reclusion perpetua and ordered to indemnify the Vizconde family Php 3 million for the murders. I stand by my story. Yes, but what can I do (?). Vizconde Massacre: The hidden Truth. Includes gruesome real photos from the crime scene. October 1, 1996 Judge Amelita Tolentino of the Paraaque RTC rejected 132 of the defense's 142 pieces of evidence. The court also said that it was "possible for Alfaro to lie" on the details of the case. 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. Thus the SC decision on the Vizconde massacre is flawed, Paguia averred, citing a portion of Fortich v. Corona, 312 SCRA 751, at 758 where the SC itself ruled that unless the minimum number of EIGHT votes for a majority is attained there is no decision to speak of, therefore the release order of the Webb group should not have been signed. 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. This coincided with his passport and Philippine Immigration records but were dismissed by Tolentino due to belief that these documents can possibly be falsified. 150 likes. Massacre case in 1991 Webb was accused of raping Carmela Vizconde, 18, who was killed in her family's Paraaque home on June 30, 1991. You will regret it.[58][59] Jack, a village security guard who kept records of the village where Webb lived said he saw Hubert Webb during the time of the massacre. 132577 People of the Philippines vs. Hubert Jeffrey P. Webb, 1999, G.R. Night of June 2930, 1991 Estrellita, Carmela and Jennifer Vizconde were killed in their Paraaque home; Carmela was found to have been raped. I did that hoping to make them have second thoughts about doing so,.There is no justice in the Philippines. No. Theyre projecting Digong as a feeble old man still seeking power. Envy aliens who can avoid PH; pity Pinoys who are stuck here. Alfaro testified that as Webb followed Carmela into the dining room, she decided to step outside for a smoke. Since I was introduced to The STAR readers in the front page, Ill hit the ground running. The other defendants were Antonio Lejano II, Hospicio Fernandez, Michael Gatchalian, Miguel Rodriguez, Peter Estrada, Joey Filart and Artemio Ventura. 2. The lower courts, the Supreme Court said, held that "Webb was actually in Paraaque when the Vizconde killings took place". But big offenses, such as rape or attempted rape, should be filed with the police or the prosecutors office. ), 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. 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. The Supreme Court acquitted them on Dec. 14, 2010. Episode on July 5, 2011 Tuesday after Saksi! TRUTH OUT, HEALING BEGINS. All rights are reserved. In the Vizconde case, the SC does not accept conjecture as the basis of its decision. [54] He was laid to rest at Manila Memorial Park Sucat on February 17. 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. Secondly, the SC affirmed the CAs assertion that Alejo was a credible witness ignoring the questions to his credibility by arguing that: positive and unequivocal declaration is sufficient to support a conviction for murder against appellants. Birrer said she had accompanied Biong to the Vizconde house to destroy the evidence and to retrieve Webb's jacket and the murder weapon. The court rejected his testimony because he was a disgruntled witness. 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. With your meaningful insights, help shape the stories that can shape the country. [22], On October 8, 2010, Webb filed an urgent motion for acquittal. 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. 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. 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. 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." Alfaro said Estrellita was killed before Webb began to rape Carmela. 176864. (P.S. 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. The other accused were Artemio Dong Ventura, Michael A. Gatchalian, Hospicio Pyke Fernandez, Peter Estrada, Miguel Ging Rodriguez, and Joey Filart. I would not have ended up like this if you had not neglected me). Let the love of God prevail. Copyright 2023. Alfaro claimed that Hubert was angry at Carmela thus raping and murdering her, her younger sister and her mother, to supposedly revenge her unfaithfulness to him. However, keep in mind not to be vindictive. 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. The NBI is a special investigating body attached to the DoJ. But the grieving father couldn't distinguish the truth from the lies. Di naman ako puwede magtrabaho don (If that's the case, then I should have had a salary. 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. : Directed by Carlo J. Caparas. Firstly, the SC held Alfaro was not a credible witness. You are just a few clicks away from making White, on the other hand, said he saw the three cars enter the subdivision on the night of June 29, as Alfaro had testified; White also testified that policeman Gerardo Biong was the first to arrive at the crime scene. Rey and Jerry claimed they saw Webb playing basketball between the months of June and July 1991 during a league in BF Homes. Kung di ninyo ako pinabayaan, 'di ako magkakaganito. (Fuck you all! 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. 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. Alfaro implicated the children of wealthy and prominent families, including Hubert Webb, Antonio Lejano II, Hospicio Fernandez, Michael Gatchalian, Miguel Rodriguez, Peter Estrada, Joey Vffrillaret and Artemio Ventura. Movie producers and directors rode the wave of public outcry by creating true-to-life films based on such heinous crimes. [61], The findings also point to another set of suspects, namely Dong Villadolid and his brother Bing. In a decision dated January 6, 2000, Paraaque Regional Trial Court Judge Amelita Tolentino convicted Webb and the co . His intention was very, very dubious, he said. [56] According to De Lima, all the new witnesses passed the polygraph test. Shades of what happened in the 2004 elections, when a national official was paid a huge sum to run under a political party. After the shooting, he could have easily and quickly transferred to Camp Crame between 9:00 and 9:30 in the morning. 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. [15] The accused alleged that by rejecting 132 of the 142 pieces of evidence, Tolentino had set the tone for their conviction. . Im still hoping for a miracle to happen. Knowing this, I cannot but hesitate to swallow everything that Alejo said at the trial. 1 newspaper in terms of circulation and readership. 127262 Hubert Webb, et al. With Romeo Vasquez, Elizabeth Oropesa, Robert Arevalo, Tommy Abuel. The trial of the case having been long concluded, the requirements of the law may have been satisfied, but not the demands of justice. She said that when she entered Hubert's room, she saw him wearing only his pants, awake and smoking in bed. Another accused, Joey Filart also fled to the United States. a contribution to Human Rights work, Asian Human Rights Commission 124871, May 13, 2004. Indeed, if the accused is truly innocent, he can have no other defense but denial and alibi. Methinks one year would give Eleazar ample time impose his brand of discipline on one of the most undisciplined police forces in the world. There was entry of (former senator) Freddie Webb leaving the country in March 1991 but no Hubert Webb, De Lima said. On the night of June 29, 1991, Asuncion was supposed to have a sleepover with Jennifer at the latters home in Paraaque City. The prosecution of this case only began in August 10, 1995, four years after the massacre happened, when Jessica Alfaro, an informant working for the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), told lawyer Artemio Sacaguing, an official of the NBI, that she knew someone who had the real story behind the Vizconde massacre. [4] In the Trial Court (People of the Philippines vs. Hubert Webb, et al., G.R. But I could not work there), Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption chairman. Hello friends! [52] On June 14, 2011, Hubert Webb filed a P180,000 compensation claim for "unlawful conviction" for the Vizconde massacre. And while justice seems elusive, life must go on, Vizcondes grandniece Katherine Asuncion said, reading from a family statement. 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. She said the same MRT provided data that several Webbs arrived in the country, including Hubert, sometime in October 1992. No. On January 4, 2000, the Regional Trial Court of Paranaque City rendered its judgement finding all the accused guilty as charged imposing a penalty of life imprisonment. References: SC slams 'unbelievable' testimony of Vizconde massacre witness. 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. The Vizconde murders remained unsolved for almost four years, until 1995 when eyewitness Jessica Alfaro, a self-confessed drug addict, came forward on April 28, 1995, to shed light on the massacre. Published July 4, 2011 7:24pm. [6], Alfaro's testimony coincided with the angle that was being explored by Supt. Firstly, like Alfaro, Alejo also received money and free accommodation from the persons who had interest in his testimony.