Manila Times Special Report on the Vizconde Case, G.R. Eleazar, a strict disciplinarian, is probably the only PNP chief who is loved and respected by the citizenry. 176864), it became one of the most sensational cases in the Philippines, being described as a "trial of the century". 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. It was Alejo who had positively identified Joel and Lorenzo (delos Santos) during a police line-up. One of the important pieces of evidence, which I presented to the court later, was the copy of an invoice issued to Hubert Webb on coincidence of coincidences! Aug 5, 2008. Please try again. Hubert and his co-accused were convicted by the Paraaque Regional Trial Court for the crime on June 6, 2000. [25][26], On December 14, 2010, the Supreme Court reversed the earlier judgment of the lower court and Court of Appeals and acquitted seven of the nine accused, including Hubert Webb, finding that the prosecution failed to prove that the accused were guilty beyond reasonable doubt. 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. [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. The men were released on Dec. 14 last year, after the Supreme Court dismissed the testimony of star witness Jessica Alfaro against Webb. (1994) Details Release date June 24, 1993 (Philippines) Country of origin Philippines Languages English Filipino Tagalog Filming locations Indeed, the testimony of a single witness, when positive and credible, is sufficient to support a conviction even for murder. I will kill you, brandishing a shiny revolver. 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. Firstly, like Alfaro, Alejo also received money and free accommodation from the persons who had interest in his testimony. [12] On July 24, 1997, the Supreme Court noted that Tolentino erred when she refused to admit the 132 pieces of evidence presented by the defense, although these were later admitted in court through an order issued by Tolentino.[12][16]. [60] Mario, a hair stylist during the period June 1991, testified that Webb, along with Tony Boy Lejano and Dong Ventura had their haircut. 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. 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 [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. The President has time and again said that he was very tired of running the country and, if he had his way, would have stepped down. By her account, after a drug session with the group, Webb allegedly had hatched his plan to rape Carmela Vizconde. 3. :Isumbongwill make a comeback on PTV-4 on June 12, 2021. (P.S. 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". This is one of the most controversial and widely publicised massacre cases because of the involvement of the son of a former Philippine Senator, Freddie Webb; and six others from a wealthy family background similar to that of the accused. She was the prosecutions worst possible choice for a witness. The story of the Vizconde Massacre wasn't just a single story; it varied as told by a number of witnesses. 187745. Former Paraaque policeman Gerardo Biong was found guilty as an accessory for burning bedsheets and tampering with other evidence in the crime. The tapes were restored by IBM while being monitored by the National Computer Center. In a decision dated January 6, 2000, Paraaque Regional Trial Court Judge Amelita Tolentino convicted Webb and the co . Make a difference. The NBI is the agency responsible in providing security and protection of witnesses admitted under WPP. 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. 182555/G.R. [56] According to De Lima, all the new witnesses passed the polygraph test. No. Massacre era. : Directed by Carlo J. Caparas. This was a case that was solved nine years after the murders and then unsolved 10 years later. 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. 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. She observed Hubert was quite irritated, uneasy, and walked to and fro inside his room. All rights are reserved. Estrellita, Carmela and Jennifer Vizconde. By continuing, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. In a 38-page strongly-worded decision promulgated on Tuesday, the . 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. Another accused, Joey Filart also fled to the United States. But I could not work there), Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption chairman. 'Ms. [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". The term dirty politics is appropriate for that kind of set-up. Ateneo law professor Alan Paguia: "The order of release is questionable as it appears to be undemocratic. Indeed, if the accused is truly innocent, he can have no other defense but denial and alibi. Anyone can be paid! Hell never return to the Philippines, said the Thai tourist whose cash was filched by Manila airport security personnel. 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. Sacaguing broke the guidelines in taking affidavits from witnesses. The High Court put to question the quality of the testamentary evidence furnished by the witnesses. However, the court pointed out that while Webb or his parents may be able to "arrange for the local immigration to put a March 9, 1991 departure stamp on his passport and an October 27, 1992 arrival stamp", they could not fix a foreign airlines passenger manifest, and the U.S. Immigration's record system. He also claimed to have heard Hubert shout, Putang ina nyo! InAbadilla case: The SC admitted the positive identification of witness Freddie Alejo when it considered him a credible witness. 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. Defence of Alibi: In Vizconde case not admissible, in Abadilla case court acted on conjectures. The Vizconde massacre has been dubbed as the trial of the century as the accused hailed from prominent families of the Philippines. [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. It is said that being elected president is a gift from God. Only minor cases, like oral defamation and quarrel between neighbors, are handled by the barangay. De Lima said they could still go after Filart and Ventura, as well as the Villadolid brothers, since the prescriptive period of 20 years for homicide does not apply to them because they were abroad. May I invite you to watch?). From there she allegedly saw Lejano and Ventura take a knife from the kitchen drawer, while the rest of the gang acted as lookouts. 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. [48] Other witnesses say Webb was in the Philippines at the time of the murders. 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. White was mistaken in saying that Gatchalian and company went in and out of the gated community many times, since they only entered once. 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. Kaya laban lang tayo. With your meaningful insights, help shape the stories that can shape the country. The film claims to have been based on new evidence from the then-ongoing trial. I would not have ended up like this if you had not neglected me). Your subscription could not be saved. . 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. She did not know nor met any of them. The Supreme Court acquitted them on Dec. 14, 2010. The CA rather held that positive and unequivocal declaration is sufficient to support a conviction which was affirmed by the SC. Alibi cannot prevail over the positive identification of a credible witness [140].. 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. In this case, the existence of an earlier negative report on the NIIS record on file concerning the entry of appellant Webb into and his exit from the US on March 9, 1991, and October 26, 1992, respectively, had raised serious doubt on the veracity and accuracy of the subsequently issued second certification dated August 31, 1995 which is based merely on a computer print-out of his alleged entry on March 9, 1991, and departure on October 26, 1992. You are just a few clicks away from making Methinks one year would give Eleazar ample time impose his brand of discipline on one of the most undisciplined police forces in the world. Evid. Thus, it was not surprising for Alfaro to testify with great details in court. But in the Abadilla case, the relatives and friends are not an impartial witness to corroborate the defence of alibi of the accused. [8] If, on examination, the DNA of the subject specimen does not belong to Webb, then he did not rape Carmela. The Vizconde massacre, dubbed the crime of the 20th century, was my defining moment as a columnist and defender of the oppressed and those. [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. [18], In her decision, Tolentino described the testimony of defense witnesses as full of inconsistencies and biased. Conjectures and suspicions are not facts, hence, they have no evidentiary value. The CA held that these ballistic results are inconclusive and can never prevail over appellants positive identification by eyewitness Freddie Alejo. Forensic evidence: In Vizconde case it cannot lie, in Abadilla case it is inconclusive. He alleged that he could not forget Webb because Biong had allegedly threatened him, Do not cheat him. At the end of February, the Bureau of Fire Protection held a parade featuring some of its trucks and equipment as well as new regular personnel: women firefighters. Vizconde should go after the national government. There was entry of (former senator) Freddie Webb leaving the country in March 1991 but no Hubert Webb, De Lima said. Alejo confirmed these two (2) as the persons he saw from his guard post walking to and fro before the shooting incident. The RTC, however, acquitted Delos Santos despite being positively identified also by Alejo as one of those who was present at the crime scene. 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. 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. I incurred the ire of the citizenry, including some of my fellow columnists in theInquirer,for my defense of Hubert. For almost two decades, Filipinos have been mystified by the brutal 1991 killing of a mother and her two daughters. [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. 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." SC slams 'unbelievable' testimony of Vizconde massacre witness. When she could not produce the person, Sacaguing continued to press her saying that she might as well assume the role of her informant.. 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. I became a villain in the eyes of the citizenry that was crying for blood; but I was steadfast. He adds, this Court takes judicial notice of reported irregularities and tampering of passports in the years prior to the recent issuance by the Department of Foreign Affairs(DFA) of machine-readable passports. On June 30, 1991, Estrellita Vizconde and her two daughters: Carmela and Jennifer, were found lifeless inside their home in Paraaque. I stand by my story. 132577 People of the Philippines vs. Hubert Jeffrey P. Webb, 1999, G.R. [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. This is one of the most controversial and widely publicised massacre cases because of the involvement of the son of a former Philippine . But in the Abadilla case, not only did the SC affird the CAs ruling in rejecting the defence of alibi, it did not also question the CAs formulation of conjectures on which it based its judgement. She did not show up at the NBI as a spontaneous witness (only after four years) bothered by her conscience. [2][20], The court ruled that the Paraaque RTC was correct in sentencing Webb et al. Three days after that, he was allegedly approached by Mrs. Webb who reportedly told him, You did not see anything. A week after, Sen. Freddie Webb allegedly told him, You did not see anything. December 14, 2010:http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2010/december2010/176389.htm Hopefully, if they will surface, public pressure will snowball and I will finally get the justice I am looking for, he said. [4] In the Trial Court (People of the Philippines vs. Hubert Webb, et al., G.R. ", 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. "I doubt that at this time, physical evidence will be available because a lapse of time has taken place, but that's the only way we can find the true killers." Run after Alfaro 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. Alfaro said Estrellita was killed before Webb began to rape Carmela. Firstly, the SC held Alfaro was not a credible witness. 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. 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". [56][62][63][64] Dang claimed to have heard Dong Villadolid shouting at the top of his voice, saying they had raped and killed a certain Maria (presumed to be Maria Carmela Vizconde) and other persons. 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. A lying witness can make as positive an identification as a truthful witness can. No. 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. InAbadilla case: Both the RTC and the CA did not apply this test of credibility of a witness before accepting the testimony of Alejo. I also updated them on the new twist in the investigation. No. 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. Secondly, in the Abadilla case the SC held that the defense of alibi is weak, but in the Vizconde case it held that not all denials and alibis should be regarded as fabricated. The SC did not apply the two tests it invoked on the Vizconde case before accepting the positive identification of Alejo as credible, and him as a credible witness. The court also said the same for the issue of the garage light: she claimed that Ventura climbed the car's hood, using a chair, to turn the light off. February 26, 2021. . No two persons have the same DNA fingerprint, with the exception of identical twins. 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. It strictly laid down these as the least requirement in evaluating the credibility of the claim of positive identification. 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. This column will tackle various topics on the days it will come out: Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. 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". [3], The Inter-Agency Task Force assigned to reinvestigate Vizconde massacre case formed 6 teams or 3 parallel teams to look into 3 sets of suspects linked to the murders. Eh di sana may sweldo ako. Connections Followed by The Untold Story: Vizconde Massacre II - May the Lord Be with Us! Be consoled that the truth will always come out, Hernandez advised Vizconde. 176864 People of the Philippines vs. Hubert Webb, et. 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. Based on my findings, I defended Hubert in my column and in my radio and TV programs. Early Thursday, Lauro Vizconde went to Holy Cross Memorial Park and laid bouquets of roses on the tombs of his wife and daughters. Tolentino also said, the photographs and videotapes purportedly showing Webb in the United States appeared to be tampered. True Crime. 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. [12] (Under Philippine law, generally, alibi is the weakest defense, especially where there is direct testimony of an eyewitness, duly corroborated by another. Episode on July 5, 2011 Tuesday after Saksi! [46], President Benigno Aquino III ordered the law enforcement agencies to re-investigate the case six months before the prescription period lapses. 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. 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. They cannot be the bases of conviction as they cannot substitute for the constitutional requirement of proof of guilt beyond reasonable doubt. Apart from Alejo, earlier there was another witness, Merlito Herbas. (Update 6:47 p.m.) The Supreme Court (SC) has cast doubts on the credibility of Jessica Alfaro, the so-called star witness in the gruesome killings of three members of the Vizconde family almost two decades ago. About the Show; You May Also Like . When the accused appealed the decision, the Court of Appeals (CA) affirmed the judgement of conviction by the RTC. Jennifer woke up and, seeing Webb violating her sister, jumped on him and bit him. It was based on the rule of the minority and not the majority as they (the SC justices) had enunciated in Fortich v. His intention was very, very dubious, he said. 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 . 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. The AHRC urges the SC to thoroughly review the pending final appeal of the accused in the Abadilla case. [51] On March 18, Hubert Webb filed a lawsuit against Jessica Alfaro for false testimony at the Paraaque Prosecutor's Office. Yes, but what can I do (?). Similar to the accused in the Vizconde case, all the accused in the Abadilla case invoked their defence of alibi. Still seeking justice for his family's grim fate, Lauro Vizconde exhausts all resources available to him. Inconsistencies: In Vizconde case damages credibility, in Abadilla case does not. Alejo had been under the Abadillas custody and protection instead of that of the WPP of the government. Their claims were corroborated by witnesses who are disinterested parties, their relatives and friends and documentary evidence. This site uses cookies. Welcome to my maiden column in TheSTAR, now the countrys No. [55], On June 28, 2011, Justice Secretary Leila De Lima said Hubert Webb was in the Philippines when the murders took place. Many of the stories in my columns in previous newspapers were complaints from citizens. 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.
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