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. 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. Needless to say, were unpopular with the PNP and other government agencies that citizens transact business with. I stand by my story. G.R. This was how Lauro Vizcondes relatives summed it up on Thursday night after a Mass marking the 20th anniversary of the death of his wife Estrellita and daughters Carmela and Jennifer. 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. 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. 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. But I could not work there), Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption chairman. From there she allegedly saw Lejano and Ventura take a knife from the kitchen drawer, while the rest of the gang acted as lookouts. She said the same MRT provided data that several Webbs arrived in the country, including Hubert, sometime in October 1992. [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. On the contrary, it reopens it. Credibility of a witness: In Vizconde case not credible, but credible in the Abadilla case. She also testified that Biong received money at a house that she later learned belonged to then Paraaque Congressman Freddie Webb; the Webb family's maids, Mila Gaviola and Nerissa Rosales, who both testified that Hubert Webb was at home on June 30, 1991. 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. All of us who have cases in court, dont we realize that if your opponent has money, brace yourself. Welcome to my maiden column in TheSTAR, now the countrys No. 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. SC slams 'unbelievable' testimony of Vizconde massacre witness. 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. Like the accused in the Vizconde case and for any other cases for that matter, the accused in the Abadilla murder case also deserve equal protection of the law. He alleged that Webb bought illegal drugs from him on two other occasions in May 1991. Vizconde Massacre Case Digest - Philippine True Crime Stories - Anchor [46], President Benigno Aquino III ordered the law enforcement agencies to re-investigate the case six months before the prescription period lapses. [10] According to the footage of the trial, Alfaro had been able to identify all the defendants by their names. Remember that death is the ultimate equalizer. 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. 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. Jubilation by the citizenry greeted the report of his appointment. The lower courts, however, reasoned that "Webb's alibi cannot stand against Alfaro's positive identification of him." The defense questioned Alfaro's credibility noting that she admitted to being under the influence of drugs when she allegedly witnessed the crime and had made inconsistent statements on her two affidavits. [52] On June 14, 2011, Hubert Webb filed a P180,000 compensation claim for "unlawful conviction" for the Vizconde massacre. 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. [56] According to De Lima, all the new witnesses passed the polygraph test. Unreliability of Jessica Alfaro's testimony: Alfaro had prior knowledge on the facts of the case having been an, Alfaro was not able to explain why the house was ransacked if robbery was not the motive of Webb and his group, Unreliability of testimony from other witnesses, Alfaro's testimony will fall apart if Webb was not at the crime scene and will relieve the others accused of the crime. G.R. The fight is not over. 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. a contribution to Human Rights work, Asian Human Rights Commission The court argued that the cited case has been superseded by Arizona v. Youngblood, "where the U.S. Supreme Court held that due process does not require the State to preserve the semen specimen although it might be useful to the accused unless the latter is able to show bad faith on the part of the prosecution or the police". ), 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. The unconstitutionality of prior restraint. 2. [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. [8] If, on examination, the DNA of the subject specimen does not belong to Webb, then he did not rape Carmela. : Directed by Carlo J. Caparas. Even if we were denied justice, I consoled them that at least people already know what really happened, he said. [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. September 7, 2010http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2010/september2010/182555.htm Indeed, if the accused is truly innocent, he can have no other defense but denial and alibi. While the SC rejected Alfaros testimony being not a credible witness, it held Alejo still a credible witness despite the inconsistencies in his testimony. LIKE me to support Mr. Vizconde 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. With your meaningful insights, help shape the stories that can shape the country. Hello friends! [2] Alfaro said that policeman Gerardo Biong "was instructed by Webb, in my presence, to take care of the house where the incident happened". 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. 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. 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. [139] Against positive evidence, alibi becomes most unsatisfactory. 3. Pinoy murders: The worst true crimes in the Philippines 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. 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. Theyre projecting Digong as a feeble old man still seeking power. Footnote: This article comprises the text of a statement issued by the Asian Human Rights Commission, AHRC-STM-266-2010, dated 21 December 2010. For those who havent heard aboutIsumbong, the public service program started at Radyo Veritas on June 1, 1991. Vizconde massacre timeline | Philstar.com The Truth about Mendiola Massacre - Philippine True Crime Stories | Martin Rules. [48] Other witnesses say Webb was in the Philippines at the time of the murders. Webb's testimony was also contradicted by other US-based defense witnesses who said they usually saw him "going to the beach, malling, bar-hopping or playing basketball. Powered by, Appendix: Case analysis: Supreme Courts rulings on Vizconde and Abadilla cases are contradictory, http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2010/december2010/176389.htm, http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2010/september2010/182555.htm, http://campaigns.ahrchk.net/abadilla5/docs/A5-FinalAppealPetition.pdf, http://campaigns.ahrchk.net/abadilla5/docs/A5-CAdecision.pdf. [18], In her decision, Tolentino described the testimony of defense witnesses as full of inconsistencies and biased. 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. Executive M/Sgt. [54] He was laid to rest at Manila Memorial Park Sucat on February 17. 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. Alejo had been under the Abadillas custody and protection instead of that of the WPP of the government. The lower courts, the Supreme Court said, held that "Webb was actually in Paraaque when the Vizconde killings took place". Evid. The public and the media continue to watch as the years go by . A second movie, The Untold Story: Vizconde Massacre II May The Lord Be With Us, was released in 1994 and starred Vina Morales as Carmela and Joko Daz as an assailant. 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 other defendants were Antonio Lejano II, Hospicio Fernandez, Michael Gatchalian, Miguel Rodriguez, Peter Estrada, Joey Filart and Artemio Ventura. Includes gruesome real photos from the crime scene. But both the RTC and the CA rejected his defence ruling that his alibi cannot stand against Alfaros positive identification of him as the rapist and killer. February 26, 2021. . Firstly, like Alfaro, Alejo also received money and free accommodation from the persons who had interest in his testimony. 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. Birrer said she had accompanied Biong to the Vizconde house to destroy the evidence and to retrieve Webb's jacket and the murder weapon. Suspicions, no matter how strong they are, must never sway judgment. [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. You are just a few clicks away from making The other accused were Artemio Dong Ventura, Michael A. Gatchalian, Hospicio Pyke Fernandez, Peter Estrada, Miguel Ging Rodriguez, and Joey Filart. 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 But big offenses, such as rape or attempted rape, should be filed with the police or the prosecutors office. 3. [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 story of the Vizconde Massacre wasn't just a single story; it varied as told by a number of witnesses. The men were released on Dec. 14 last year, after the Supreme Court dismissed the testimony of star witness Jessica Alfaro against 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. Kaya laban lang tayo. She observed Hubert was quite irritated, uneasy, and walked to and fro inside his room. 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. Don't miss out on the latest news and information. When she could not produce the person, Sacaguing continued to press her saying that she might as well assume the role of her informant.. 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. For almost two decades, Filipinos have been mystified by the brutal 1991 killing of a mother and her two daughters. Lauro Vizconde the husband of Estrellita and father of Carmela and Jennifer, was in the United State on business when the murders took place. After 15 years behind bars, Hubert Webb and 5 others in the Vizconde massacre case (Manila-Philippines) were released from prison on Tuesday. Abadilla Case Decision from the Court of Appeals:http://campaigns.ahrchk.net/abadilla5/docs/A5-CAdecision.pdf. This has resulted in the revelation by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) that they no longer had the specimens as these were remanded to the Paraaque courts. This policewoman is either ignorant of the law or plain lazy. Jennifer woke up and, seeing Webb violating her sister, jumped on him and bit him. However, keep in mind not to be vindictive. [49], On January 4, 2011, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said suspect Joey Filart was spotted in the United States. 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. 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. "[29], The court held that security guard Normal E. White, Jr.'s testimony was unreliable. 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". This page was last edited on 8 February 2023, at 03:37. [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". Eh di sana may sweldo ako. October 1, 1996 Judge Amelita Tolentino of the Paraaque RTC rejected 132 of the defense's 142 pieces of evidence. [2][20], The court ruled that the Paraaque RTC was correct in sentencing Webb et al. Vizconde Massacre: The hidden Truth. The remains of his wife and daughters were also exhumed from their grave at Holy Cross Memorial Park in Quezon City and transferred to his grave. 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 . I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Published July 4, 2011 7:24pm. 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. People vs. Bello, G.R. Former Paraaque policeman Gerardo Biong was found guilty as an accessory for burning bedsheets and tampering with other evidence in the crime. Like Herbas, court records had also shown that Alejo has been receiving money and free accommodation from the Abadillas. The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) wishes to draw the attention of the Supreme Court (SC) of the Philippines to its recent decision on two well-known cases tried in the lower courts; the conviction in the Vizconde Massacre case was overturned while that of the Abadilla murder case was affirmed. He also ordered the Secretary of Justice Leila de Lima to study the possibility of giving compensation to Webb and others. 176864. 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. starring Kris Aquino as Carmela Vizconde. Vizconde massacre. Once again, the SCs applications of jurisprudence on the admissibility of forensic evidence in criminal trial have not been equally applied. Hence, it was not physically impossible for them to travel to Quezon City via the North Expressway at the time the crime took place; On Augusto Santos, the corroboration of his brother-in-law, Jonas Padel Ayhon, that he was at the Jose Fabella Hospital when the crime happened, the CA rejected his corroboration because he was not an impartial witness and ruled that where nothing supports the alibi than the testimony of a relative, it deserves scant consideration. [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. VIZCONDE MASSACRE: After 20 Years | GMA News Online Indeed, the testimony of a single witness, when positive and credible, is sufficient to support a conviction even for murder. Connections Followed by The Untold Story: Vizconde Massacre II - May the Lord Be with Us! 2. Vizconde said his quest for justice was continuing despite the end of the prescription period for the prosecution of his familys killers. I would not have ended up like this if you had not neglected me). G/F, 52 Princess Margaret Road 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. Lejano and Ventura also took turns raping Carmela, before finishing her off with numerous stabs. [47], On December 28, 2010, new witnesses have come forward accusing Hubert Webb and others of allegedly being behind the Vizconde massacre. The court also said that it was "possible for Alfaro to lie" on the details of the case. Vizconde should go after the national government. SC acquits Hubert Webb, 6 others in Vizconde massacre All rights are reserved. 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. 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 details of how they were killed were grim. As a host of the program that carries my surname, I and my all-female staff have handled complaints from citizens, concerning abusive or arrogant policemen and other government functionaries. 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. 132577 People of the Philippines vs. Hubert Jeffrey P. Webb, 1999, G.R. 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. 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. Pray to them. Anyone can be paid! Let the love of God prevail. No. On the night of June 29, 1991, Asuncion was supposed to have a sleepover with Jennifer at the latters home in Paraaque City. Sources from the Department of Justice said Webb, who was acquitted by the Supreme Court last December, 2010, was in the country during and after the crime happened in . But in the Abadilla case, the relatives and friends are not an impartial witness to corroborate the defence of alibi of the accused. Shades of what happened in the 2004 elections, when a national official was paid a huge sum to run under a political party. Both Webb and del Toro could not describe in court what Hubert's work was, Tolentino said. 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 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. De Lima also said seven new witnesses claimed they saw Webb in the country during the months of April, May and June 1991. Seven justices based its decision on the following points: Webb, citing Brady v. Maryland, said "that he is entitled to outright acquittal on the ground of violation of his right to due process given the States failure to produce on order of the Court either by negligence or willful suppression the semen specimen taken from Carmela." Biong walks free, insists he's innocent | ABS-CBN News April 28, 1995 Jessica Alfaro presents herself as a witness and accuses Hubert Webb. This was a case that was solved nine years after the murders and then unsolved 10 years later. The Vizconde Massacre: God, Help Us! - sirasa.dixiesewing.com The trial of the case having been long concluded, the requirements of the law may have been satisfied, but not the demands of justice. No. Webb was the prime suspect of the infamous homicide that occurred on June 30, 1991. We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. SC slams 'unbelievable' testimony of Vizconde massacre witness 5. The prescription period does not matter to me, its just a date, he said. [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]. Six months is not enough for him to clean up the Aegean stable that is the PNP. Vizconde Massacre Case Digest - Philippine True Crime Stories | Martin Rules. The majority of the justices also rejected as conjecture the argument of one of the dissenting justices, Martin Villarama Jr., that it would not have been impossible during the interregnum for Webb to travel back to the country and again fly to the US several times considering that the travel time on board an airline from the Philippines to San Francisco, and from San Francisco to the Philippines takes only about twelve (12) to fourteen (14) hours. The Vizconde Massacre | Shows | discovery+ Reporters jostled with Vizcondes relatives and friends in his garage, where Fr. The Vizconde massacre: Justice not served - BusinessMirror I told my family that I did my best. Tel: +(852) 2698 6339 TV-14. No. Their claims were corroborated by witnesses who are disinterested parties, their relatives and friends and documentary evidence. 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. I also updated them on the new twist in the investigation. 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 47-year-old Estrellita had 13 stab wounds. 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. Hopefully, if they will surface, public pressure will snowball and I will finally get the justice I am looking for, he said. I became a villain in the eyes of the citizenry that was crying for blood; but I was steadfast. 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. The Vizconde massacre, dubbed the crime of the 20th century, was my defining moment as a columnist and defender of the oppressed and those. So, some sectors are calling for Eleazars extension until after the May 2022 elections.

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