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. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Vizconde said he was optimistic about finding more witnesses.. She said that when she entered Hubert's room, she saw him wearing only his pants, awake and smoking in bed. . [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. A second movie, The Untold Story: Vizconde Massacre II, was released in 1994. Of the 15 Justices, 7 voted for acquittal while four dissented and four Justices, including Carpio, did not participate.[27][28]. [61], The findings also point to another set of suspects, namely Dong Villadolid and his brother Bing. 3. Webb's reliance on the presumption of regularity of official functions, stressing the fact that the US-INS certifications are official documents, is misplaced. Firstly, like Alfaro, Alejo also received money and free accommodation from the persons who had interest in his testimony. Kaya laban lang tayo. Estrellita, Carmela and Jennifer Vizconde. 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. 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,. [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. A police officer, Gerardo Biong, has also been charged for destroying the evidence at the crime scene. The case of the Vizconde Massacre took another direction only after four years, when Jessica Alfaro surfaced and became the case's star witness. Yes, but what can I do (?). 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. Secondly, Alfaros quality as a witness and her inconsistent, if not inherently unbelievable, testimony cannot be the positive identification that jurisprudence acknowledges as sufficient. 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. But Villaramas opinion was not considered by the SC in their majority decision. 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. Remember that death is the ultimate equalizer. 16:53. 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. The Vizconde Massacre: God, Help Us! (1993) - IMDb The RTC, however, acquitted Delos Santos despite being positively identified also by Alejo as one of those who was present at the crime scene. 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. [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]. 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. I expected this decision because since the start, I knew that Jessica Alfaro was not entirely telling the truth. The passing away of Lauro Vizconde a few days ago does not close the sad chapter on the tragedy known as the Vizconde massacre. Violent Vizconde Massacre | Crimes That Shocked Asia - YouTube Shades of what happened in the 2004 elections, when a national official was paid a huge sum to run under a political party. [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. 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. 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 [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 High Court put to question the quality of the testamentary evidence furnished by the witnesses. "[29] In general, the court said that Alfaro's story "lacks sense or suffers from inherent inconsistencies. The 47-year-old Estrellita had 13 stab wounds. That's all crap! 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. Hubert Webb of Vizconde Massacre Freed- Breaking News - theAsianparent In the Vizconde case, the SC does not accept conjecture as the basis of its decision. They cannot be the bases of conviction as they cannot substitute for the constitutional requirement of proof of guilt beyond reasonable doubt. For those who havent heard aboutIsumbong, the public service program started at Radyo Veritas on June 1, 1991. Alfaro had testified that she knew the suspects and was at the Vizconde house when the crime was committed. Like Herbas, court records had also shown that Alejo has been receiving money and free accommodation from the Abadillas. Carpio testified for the defense during the trial. While the SC rejected Alfaros testimony being not a credible witness, it held Alejo still a credible witness despite the inconsistencies in his testimony. Vizconde Massacre Case Digest - Philippine True Crime Stories | Martin Rules. starring Kris Aquino as Carmela Vizconde. [2][20], The court ruled that the Paraaque RTC was correct in sentencing Webb et al. Indeed, if the accused is truly innocent, he can have no other defense but denial and alibi. When the accused appealed the decision, the Court of Appeals (CA) affirmed the judgement of conviction by the RTC. Needless to say, were unpopular with the PNP and other government agencies that citizens transact business with. 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. 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. 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. Don't miss out on the latest news and information. Biong was released from jail on November 30, 2010, after serving his sentence. No. It took the trial and appeal process in this case fifteen years. Indeed, her superior testified that she volunteered to play the role of a witness in the Vizconde killings when she could not produce a man she promised to the NBI. 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 . So, some sectors are calling for Eleazars extension until after the May 2022 elections. 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. 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. Tolentino also said, the photographs and videotapes purportedly showing Webb in the United States appeared to be tampered. [54] He was laid to rest at Manila Memorial Park Sucat on February 17. Vizconde massacre timeline | Philstar.com This coincided with his passport and Philippine Immigration records but were dismissed by Tolentino due to belief that these documents can possibly be falsified. We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. 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. 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. Forensic evidence: In Vizconde case it cannot lie, in Abadilla case it is inconclusive. For almost two decades, Filipinos have been mystified by the brutal 1991 killing of a mother and her two daughters. [48] Other witnesses say Webb was in the Philippines at the time of the murders. References: [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. 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. Nos. a contribution to Human Rights work, Asian Human Rights Commission Please try again. De Lima also said seven new witnesses claimed they saw Webb in the country during the months of April, May and June 1991. No. al., 2010, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Vizconde_murders&oldid=1138122178, Loss of DNA evidence not a ground for outright acquittal. 5. Still seeking justice for his family's grim fate, Lauro Vizconde exhausts all resources available to him. 1. The Vizconde Massacre | GMA News Online 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 cannot be coached or allured by a promise of reward or financial support. The other accused were Artemio Dong Ventura, Michael A. Gatchalian, Hospicio Pyke Fernandez, Peter Estrada, Miguel Ging Rodriguez, and Joey Filart. 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. 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. Vizconde said his quest for justice was continuing despite the end of the prescription period for the prosecution of his familys killers. [8] If, on examination, the DNA of the subject specimen does not belong to Webb, then he did not rape Carmela. I stand by my story. Vizconde Massacre: The hidden Truth - Facebook Eh di sana may sweldo ako. Jennifer woke up and, seeing Webb violating her sister, jumped on him and bit him. I stood my ground because I had all the facts in my hand. The CA held that these ballistic results are inconclusive and can never prevail over appellants positive identification by eyewitness Freddie Alejo. 176864 People of the Philippines vs. Hubert Webb, et. InVizconde case: The majority of the justices strongly argued against relying on conjectures on deciding the case, particularly on the claim that Hubert Jeffrey could have been in the Philippines, and not in the U.S., when the crime happened. The readers will notice soon enough the brevity of each topic. The Supreme Court acquitted them on Dec. 14, 2010. The Vizconde massacre, dubbed the crime of the 20th century, was my defining moment as a columnist and defender of the oppressed and those. Defence of Alibi: In Vizconde case not admissible, in Abadilla case court acted on conjectures. [29] By continuing, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. The AHRC is deeply concerned by the contradiction in the application of jurisprudence by the SC in these cases, particularly its ruling on positive identification, the credibility of witness and its appreciation of forensic evidence. The SC acquitted all the accused, reversing and dismissing the guilty verdict of the RTC and the CA. 132577 People of the Philippines vs. Hubert Jeffrey P. Webb, 1999, G.R. The film claims to have been based on new evidence from the then-ongoing trial. The massacre and surrounding events were depicted in the 1993 film The Vizconde Massacre Story (God Help Us!) 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. Vizconde marks 20th year of murders: Time to move on The filming location took place in the actual home of the Vizconde's where the massacre took place on June 30, 1991. Apart from Alejo, earlier there was another witness, Merlito Herbas. Appendix: Case analysis: Supreme Court's rulings on Vizconde and But feeling uneasy, she decided to go up to the stockroom near Hubert's room to see what he was doing. But I could not work there), Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption chairman. Theyre projecting Digong as a feeble old man still seeking power. Nine years later, still no clarity on EDCA sites. This column will tackle various topics on the days it will come out: Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. They were victims of gory murder; Carmela was raped before she was killed. This policewoman is either ignorant of the law or plain lazy. But her parents did not allow her to go. No. There was only one vital witness for the prosecution, Freddie Alejo. 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. 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. De Lima said the evidence that showed Webb and any of the co-accused were in the country came from the magnetic reel tape (MRT) of the Philippine Bureau of Immigration (BI) where all records of incoming and outgoing passengers from the Philippines are recorded. 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". On the contrary, it reopens it. The SC rendered its judgment on the Abadilla case on September 7 and on the Vizconde case on December 14 of this year [2010]. 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. This site uses cookies. I am not an NBI agent nor an NBI asset. [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. : Directed by Carlo J. Caparas. 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. 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. 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. 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. ), 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. She said the same MRT provided data that several Webbs arrived in the country, including Hubert, sometime in October 1992. 24, Rule 134, R. 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. [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. February 26, 2021. . G/F, 52 Princess Margaret Road 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. 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. Published July 4, 2011 7:24pm. True Crime. On June 30, 1991, 47-year-old housewife Estrellita Vizconde and daughters Carmela, 18, and Jennifer, 7, were found dead in their residence in BF Homes in Paraaque. Be consoled that the truth will always come out, Hernandez advised Vizconde. 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. The most significant topic that Ive ever written about and which I personally got involved in was the Vizconde massacre. Alejo had been under the Abadillas custody and protection instead of that of the WPP of the government. X' key to real perpetrators of Vizconde murders? For there is no law requiring that the testimony of a simple [sic] witness should be corroborated for it to be accorded full faith and credit. Vizconde murders - Wikipedia Let the love of God prevail. "[29], The court held that security guard Normal E. White, Jr.'s testimony was unreliable. [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. I will continue to play that role as long as I live. Envy aliens who can avoid PH; pity Pinoys who are stuck here. 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. 176864. [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. 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. [55], On June 28, 2011, Justice Secretary Leila De Lima said Hubert Webb was in the Philippines when the murders took place. 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. 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. . Tel: +(852) 2698 6339 Anyone can be paid! [9] They were acquitted by a trial judge in September 1993 for insufficient evidence.[9]. Therefore, the SCs rejection of Villamaras opinion demonstrates a fundamental contradiction to its September 7 decision on the Abadilla case. Based on my findings, I defended Hubert in my column and in my radio and TV programs. Copyright 2023. When she could not produce the person, Sacaguing continued to press her saying that she might as well assume the role of her informant.. 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. No. 'Hubert Webb was in PH during Vizconde massacre' - ABS-CBN News 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. I did that hoping to make them have second thoughts about doing so,.There is no justice in the Philippines. Another accused, Joey Filart also fled to the United States. She did not show up at the NBI as a spontaneous witness (only after four years) bothered by her conscience. 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. 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. The DoJ also placed Alfaro under the Witness Protection Program (WPP) during the trial period. [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. [2] Alfaro said that policeman Gerardo Biong "was instructed by Webb, in my presence, to take care of the house where the incident happened". By providing an email address. Aug 5, 2008. It strictly laid down these as the least requirement in evaluating the credibility of the claim of positive identification. Thus, it was not surprising for Alfaro to testify with great details in court. Acting solely on Alfaros testimony, the Department of Justice (DoJ) filed charges of rape with homicide against the eight accused on August 1995. 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. ", 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. 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. Am I dismayed by the decision of the (Supreme Court)? It was hard to tell which made up the truth and the lies. I got involved in the case after Webb told me Hubert, whose name was slowly cropping up in news reports as a prime suspect, was in the United States when the dastardly crime happened. God does not teach us to retaliate. 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. [57] The witnesses include an electrician, a drug dealer, a couple of neighborhood basketball players, a hairdresser and a village security guard. Remember when I made the disclosure that someone is pressuring the justices to vote for a reversal? Vizconde is clinging to the hope that even if this period ended Thursday, more concerned citizens will approach the National Bureau of Investigation to corroborate claims made by new witnesses that Webb was seen in BF Homes, Paraaque City, at the time of the murders. [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. I would not have ended up like this if you had not neglected me). 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. 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. It is said that being elected president is a gift from God. 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. His intention was very, very dubious, he said. Connections Followed by The Untold Story: Vizconde Massacre II - May the Lord Be with Us! InAbadilla case: The SC admitted the positive identification of witness Freddie Alejo when it considered him a credible witness. This contradicted Hubert Webb's claim that he was in the United States from March 9, 1991, to October 27, 1992. In open court, he already said there were six, not four assailants; that it was two other gunmen, not one of the four present close to the car who pointed the gun at him; and he was not nervous but rather had the opportunity to see the faces of all the assailants facing him all at the same time.
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