[15] The accused alleged that by rejecting 132 of the 142 pieces of evidence, Tolentino had set the tone for their conviction. VIZCONDE MASSACRE: After 20 Years | GMA News Online The court also said that it was "possible for Alfaro to lie" on the details of the case. 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. "[29], The court held that security guard Normal E. White, Jr.'s testimony was unreliable. The lower courts, however, reasoned that "Webb's alibi cannot stand against Alfaro's positive identification of him." 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. Episode on July 5, 2011 Tuesday after Saksi! 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. Vizconde massacre timeline | Philstar.com After 15 years behind bars, Hubert Webb and 5 others in the Vizconde massacre case (Manila-Philippines) were released from prison on Tuesday. 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. Defence of Alibi: In Vizconde case not admissible, in Abadilla case court acted on conjectures. 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. This is despite questions to his credibility for receiving money and enjoying privileges while he was in Abadillas custody and the existence of inconsistencies in his testimonies in open court. They were victims of gory murder; Carmela was raped before she was killed. The Truth about Mendiola Massacre - Philippine True Crime Stories | Martin Rules. [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]. 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. Hell never return to the Philippines, said the Thai tourist whose cash was filched by Manila airport security personnel. 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. Biong was released from jail on November 30, 2010, after serving his sentence. 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. It is said that being elected president is a gift from God. 176864 People of the Philippines vs. Hubert Webb, et. MANILA, Philippines - Six new witnesses reveal Hubert Webb, son of former Senator Freddie Webb, was in the Philippines when the Vizconde massacre took place on June 1991. 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. InAbadilla case: Both the RTC and the CA did not apply this test of credibility of a witness before accepting the testimony of Alejo. Knowing this, I cannot but hesitate to swallow everything that Alejo said at the trial. De Lima said it was possible that it was Black Maria who was in the Vizconde home and not Jessica Alfaro, the NBI's star witness during the trial. [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". 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. She did not know nor met any of them. In a decision dated January 6, 2000, Paraaque Regional Trial Court Judge Amelita Tolentino convicted Webb and the co . All rights are reserved. 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. due to "overwhelming evidence that showed Webb and the other accused had conspired to rape Carmela and, in the process, kill her and the rest of the family." With your meaningful insights, help shape the stories that can shape the country. [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]. Kaya laban lang tayo. Jubilation by the citizenry greeted the report of his appointment. Herbas and Alejo worked for the Abadillas as security guards. The Vizconde massacre, dubbed the crime of the 20th century, was my defining moment as a columnist and defender of the oppressed and those. The NBI is a special investigating body attached to the DoJ. Credibility of a witness: In Vizconde case not credible, but credible in the Abadilla case. 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. 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. Asuncion, 27, was a constant playmate of Jennifer Vizconde, who was 7 years old when she was killed. Pitong, an electrician who since 1982, already knew the Webb family claimed he saw a laundry woman wash a bloodied T-shirt on the morning of the crime. a contribution to Human Rights work, Asian Human Rights Commission The Murder of an Entire Family While Dad Was Abroad for Work [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. The presumption leaned on is disputable and can be overcome by evidence to the contrary. Pray to them. Jennifer Diaz, chief of the women and childrens desk, told Allan to file the complaint with the barangay where they reside. 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. Shades of what happened in the 2004 elections, when a national official was paid a huge sum to run under a political party. Eh di sana may sweldo ako. No. She had been hanging around that agency for sometime as a stool pigeon, one paid for mixing up with criminals and squealing on them. The 47-year-old Estrellita had 13 stab wounds. Alejos testimonies in open court were also not consistent to what he had said to the police investigators immediately after the murder. At any rate, Rameses de Jesus admitted that they were using the new car of Lenido Lumanog. Alfaro said she was then having reservations when she first executed the first affidavit and held back vital information due to her natural reaction of mistrust. On the contrary, it reopens it. 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. No. I will continue to play that role as long as I live. Among those present were former Vice President Teofisto Guingona; Arsenio Boy Evangelista, father of carjack victim Venson Evangelista; Dacer-Corbito witness Cezar Mancao and his lawyer Ferdinand Topacio; and members of the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC). 2. June 30, 1991 for a bicycle he bought from a store in Orange County, Los Angeles, California. Both Webb and del Toro could not describe in court what Hubert's work was, Tolentino said. 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. Abadilla Case Decision from the Court of Appeals:http://campaigns.ahrchk.net/abadilla5/docs/A5-CAdecision.pdf. I can't express enough how sad and unjust today's story. Yes, but what can I do (?). But her parents did not allow her to go. This is a violation of the duty of state." But Custodio admits this may be easier said than done. [29], For the alibi to be established "the accused must prove by positive, clear, and satisfactory evidence that he was present at another place at the time of the perpetration of the crime, and that it was physically impossible for him to be at the scene of the crime". I stand by my story. Vizconde murders - Wikipedia Eleazar, a strict disciplinarian, is probably the only PNP chief who is loved and respected by the citizenry. A local elected official whos being groomed to run for a national office is being sold to the highest bidder by the politicians spouse. 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. ", Jessica Alfaro: Alfaro's e-mail from abroad read. [47], On December 28, 2010, new witnesses have come forward accusing Hubert Webb and others of allegedly being behind the Vizconde massacre. 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. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. [10] According to the footage of the trial, Alfaro had been able to identify all the defendants by their names. Of the 15 Justices, 7 voted for acquittal while four dissented and four Justices, including Carpio, did not participate.[27][28]. Indeed, if the accused is truly innocent, he can have no other defense but denial and alibi. 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. In rejecting the defence of the accused, the SC also affirmed the conjecture the CA had put forward as to the possibility that the accused could have been present or somewhere at the vicinity where the crime took place, as mentioned below: On Joel de Jesus, it was not impossible for him to have gone also Katipunan Avenue (from Quezon City where he was driving), which is also part of Quezon City, not to mention the fact that with his tricycle, he could have easily moved from one place to another; On Rameses de Jesus and Lenido Lumanog, their claims lack credence as they are unsupported by the testimonies of independent witnesses. 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. It is time to heal the past. 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. Sacaguing broke the guidelines in taking affidavits from witnesses. Like Herbas, court records had also shown that Alejo has been receiving money and free accommodation from the Abadillas. She cited the testimony of Alex del Toro, husband of Webb's relative, who said he hired Hubert Webb as an employee at his pesticide company in California. It cannot be coached or allured by a promise of reward or financial support. Envy aliens who can avoid PH; pity Pinoys who are stuck here. [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. They are Lenido Lumanog, Augusto Santos, Senior Police Officer 2 (SPO2) Cesar Fortuna, Rameses de Jesus and Joel de Jesus.

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