the truth about vizconde massacre10 marca 2023
[22], On October 8, 2010, Webb filed an urgent motion for acquittal. 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. 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 term dirty politics is appropriate for that kind of set-up. Guillermo Lorenzo Guilor Eleazar, recently appointed chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), bows out on Nov. 13 this year when he reaches the mandatory retirement age of 56. Tel: +(852) 2698 6339 No. Secondly, the SC affirmed the CAs assertion that Alejo was a credible witness ignoring the questions to his credibility by arguing that: positive and unequivocal declaration is sufficient to support a conviction for murder against appellants. The court also said that it was "possible for Alfaro to lie" on the details of the case. :Isumbongwill make a comeback on PTV-4 on June 12, 2021. No acquittal has been made as to the two accused, Filart and Ventura, who remain at-large. 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. 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 a violation of the duty of state." But Custodio admits this may be easier said than done. On June 30, 1991, Estrellita Vizconde and her two daughters: Carmela and Jennifer, were found lifeless inside their home in Paraaque. Besides the horror itself, the suspected perpetrators included high-society figures. Rodolfo Sison, the police investigator originally assigned to the case in 1991. 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. Democrito Barcenas, former Integrated Bar of the Philippines Cebu City president and regional coordinator of the Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG): I think that most of the justices are right in their decision. [6], Alfaro's testimony coincided with the angle that was being explored by Supt. Connections Followed by The Untold Story: Vizconde Massacre II - May the Lord Be with Us! This site uses cookies. Executive M/Sgt. 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. : Directed by Carlo J. Caparas. The prosecution did not present him as their witness during the trial. By continuing, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Remember when I made the disclosure that someone is pressuring the justices to vote for a reversal? 'Ms. On April this year, the Webbs filed an urgent motion to acquit when they found out that the NBI no longer has custody of the specimen that was taken from the body of the rape victim, Carmela Visconde. Webb's reliance on the presumption of regularity of official functions, stressing the fact that the US-INS certifications are official documents, is misplaced. Like Alejo, Herbas also at first instance identified Joel de Jesus as one of the gunmen during a police line-up but later withdraw his statement in open court. He alleged that Webb bought illegal drugs from him on two other occasions in May 1991. Kung di ninyo ako pinabayaan, 'di ako magkakaganito. (Fuck you all! [8] If, on examination, the DNA of the subject specimen does not belong to Webb, then he did not rape Carmela. Many of the stories in my columns in previous newspapers were complaints from citizens. At about 4 a.m. on June 30, 1991, Gaviola woke up and entered the bedrooms to get the Webb's dirty laundry and wash it as part of her job. The 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. 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. She took advantage of her familiarity with these details to include in her testimony. 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." I can't express enough how sad and unjust today's story. He alleged that he could not forget Webb because Biong had allegedly threatened him, Do not cheat him. LIKE me to support Mr. Vizconde [61], The findings also point to another set of suspects, namely Dong Villadolid and his brother Bing. 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. He said that he heard Hubert Webb quarreling with another young looking customer. 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. Alfaro testified that as Webb followed Carmela into the dining room, she decided to step outside for a smoke. 176389 / G.R. The court considered the accused's "lack of interest in having such test done" in which they concluded that the state "cannot be deemed put on reasonable notice that it would be required to produce the semen specimen at some future time".[29]. On August 11, 1999, the Regional Trial Court of Quezon City acquitted two of them and convicted the five others, now collectively known as the Abadilla Five. 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. I told my family that I did my best. [2][12] Security guards Justo Cabanacan and Normal White. 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. For almost two decades, Filipinos have been mystified by the brutal 1991 killing of a mother and her two daughters. Inconsistencies: In Vizconde case damages credibility, in Abadilla case does not. [51] On March 18, Hubert Webb filed a lawsuit against Jessica Alfaro for false testimony at the Paraaque Prosecutor's Office. September 7, 2010http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2010/september2010/182555.htm The men were released on Dec. 14 last year, after the Supreme Court dismissed the testimony of star witness Jessica Alfaro against Webb. Alejo had been under the Abadillas custody and protection instead of that of the WPP of the government. 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 . But, unlike the house robbers, however the court points out that "Webb and his friends did not have anything to do in a darkened garage. 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. [19], The Court of Appeals' Third Division voted 32 to deny Webb's motion for reconsideration and upheld the ruling of Judge Tolentino on December 16, 2005. 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,. 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. This coincided with his passport and Philippine Immigration records but were dismissed by Tolentino due to belief that these documents can possibly be falsified. April 28, 1995 Jessica Alfaro presents herself as a witness and accuses Hubert Webb. The trial of the case having been long concluded, the requirements of the law may have been satisfied, but not the demands of justice. There was only one vital witness for the prosecution, Freddie Alejo. The trial began in August 1995 before Paraaque RTC Judge Amelita Tolentino. 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. 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. 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. Alibi cannot prevail over the positive identification of a credible witness [140].. 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. [139] Against positive evidence, alibi becomes most unsatisfactory. This policewoman is either ignorant of the law or plain lazy. No. [18], In her decision, Tolentino described the testimony of defense witnesses as full of inconsistencies and biased. With Romeo Vasquez, Elizabeth Oropesa, Robert Arevalo, Tommy Abuel. On the night of June 29, 1991, Asuncion was supposed to have a sleepover with Jennifer at the latters home in Paraaque City. Alfaro said Estrellita was killed before Webb began to rape Carmela. God would be stupid to borrow Digongs words if He gifts him the vice presidency the second time around. 121234 Hubert Webb et al. The Vizconde massacre has been dubbed as the trial of the century as the accused hailed from prominent families of the Philippines. Forensic evidence: In Vizconde case it cannot lie, in Abadilla case it is inconclusive. The lower courts, the Supreme Court said, held that "Webb was actually in Paraaque when the Vizconde killings took place". Firstly, in the Vizconde case, the SC still held as credible the corroborating testimonies of the witnesses favouring Hubert Jeffrey who are mostly his relatives and friends in support of his defence of alibi. Rey and Jerry claimed they saw Webb playing basketball between the months of June and July 1991 during a league in BF Homes. Acting solely on Alfaros testimony, the Department of Justice (DoJ) filed charges of rape with homicide against the eight accused on August 1995. Jubilation by the citizenry greeted the report of his appointment. 1. [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. This page was last edited on 8 February 2023, at 03:37. Welcome to my maiden column in TheSTAR, now the countrys No. [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". Evid. al., 2010, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Vizconde_murders&oldid=1138122178, Loss of DNA evidence not a ground for outright acquittal. On October 1, 1996, Judge Amelita Tolentino admitted only 10 of the 142 pieces of evidence the defense presented. Credibility of a witness: In Vizconde case not credible, but credible in the Abadilla case. 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. 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. 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. 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. Aug 5, 2008. She admitted to knowing Webb and company but denied knowledge of the Vizconde massacre, NBI Death Investigation Division head Romulo Asis said. 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. [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. Their original conviction was capital punishment but their sentence was modified to life imprisonment when the death penalty was abolished. 185123/G.R. 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. Apart from Alejo, earlier there was another witness, Merlito Herbas. De Lima also said seven new witnesses claimed they saw Webb in the country during the months of April, May and 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 . The NBI is a special investigating body attached to the DoJ. [57] The witnesses include an electrician, a drug dealer, a couple of neighborhood basketball players, a hairdresser and a village security guard. The DoJ also placed Alfaro under the Witness Protection Program (WPP) during the trial period. After she finished the laundry, she went to the servant's quarters. She added that suspect Miguel Rodriguez warned her to "shut up or you're gonna get killed" in the same disco on April 8, 1995, prompting her to voluntarily submit herself to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for protection. Suspicions, no matter how strong they are, must never sway judgment. 808 bound for New York and who expressed doubt on whether Hubert Webb was his co-passenger in the trip; NBI medico-legal Dr. Prospero Cabanayan, Belen Dometita and Teofilo Minoza, two of the Vizconde maids; and Manciano Gatmaitan, an engineer. [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. The unconstitutionality of prior restraint. [9] They were acquitted by a trial judge in September 1993 for insufficient evidence.[9]. 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. The RTC, however, acquitted Delos Santos despite being positively identified also by Alejo as one of those who was present at the crime scene. 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. 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. I would not have ended up like this if you had not neglected me). vs. Raul de Leon et. With the exception of Filart and Ventura who had been convicted in absentia the men were acquitted by the Supreme Court on December 14, 2010 for failure of the prosecution to prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt. [citation needed] (The Philippine Rules of Evidence require official attestation of the authenticity of any public document presented in evidence; as per Sec. The story of the Vizconde Massacre wasn't just a single story; it varied as told by a number of witnesses. They were sentenced to reclusion perpetua and ordered to indemnify the Vizconde family Php 3 million for the murders. By continuing to browse the site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Hell never return to the Philippines, said the Thai tourist whose cash was filched by Manila airport security personnel. 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.
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