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. Indeed, the testimony of a single witness, when positive and credible, is sufficient to support a conviction even for murder. X' key to real perpetrators of Vizconde murders? Six months is not enough for him to clean up the Aegean stable that is the PNP. [2] Alfaro said that policeman Gerardo Biong "was instructed by Webb, in my presence, to take care of the house where the incident happened". No. Even if we were denied justice, I consoled them that at least people already know what really happened, he said. It held that a positive declaration from a witness that he saw the accused commit the crime should not automatically cancel out the accuseds claim that he did not do it. Vizconde massacre timeline | Philstar.com Since I was introduced to The STAR readers in the front page, Ill hit the ground running. It is time to heal the past. [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. 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. Hubert argued that the specimen could exonerate him from the charge and support his defence that he did not rape the victim. Hello friends! 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. Remember when I made the disclosure that someone is pressuring the justices to vote for a reversal? ", Jessica Alfaro: Alfaro's e-mail from abroad read. As a result, the court reverses the decision of the Court of Appeals, and acquits Webb, et al. True Crime. In rejecting questions to Alejos credibility, the SC affirmed the CAs ruling that the credible testimony of a lone witness(es) assumes more weight when there is no showing that he was actuated by improper motive to testify falsely against the accused, as in the case of Freddie Alejo. Rodolfo Sison, the police investigator originally assigned to the case in 1991. Vizconde Massacre Case Digest - Philippine True Crime Stories - Anchor Secondly, Alfaros quality as a witness and her inconsistent, if not inherently unbelievable, testimony cannot be the positive identification that jurisprudence acknowledges as sufficient. Ateneo law professor Alan Paguia: "The order of release is questionable as it appears to be undemocratic. [citation needed] (The Philippine Rules of Evidence require official attestation of the authenticity of any public document presented in evidence; as per Sec. [2] Two of the accused remain fugitives from the law: Joey Filart and Artemio Ventura. Kung di ninyo ako pinabayaan, 'di ako magkakaganito. (Fuck you all! Vizconde Massacre: The hidden Truth - Facebook After she finished the laundry, she went to the servant's quarters. It took the trial and appeal process in this case fifteen years. He said that he heard Hubert Webb quarreling with another young looking customer. The Vizconde massacre revisited | ABS-CBN News Both the SC and the CA affirmed the RTCs sentence of guilty verdict without applying the test on the credibility of a witness as they did in Vizconde case. 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. Vizconde said his quest for justice was continuing despite the end of the prescription period for the prosecution of his familys killers. [2][12] Security guards Justo Cabanacan and Normal White. 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. 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 . 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. Philstar.com is one of the most vibrant, opinionated, discerning communities of readers on cyberspace. Webbs co-accused, Antonio Lejano, is a son of a known singer and celebrity. De Lima also said seven new witnesses claimed they saw Webb in the country during the months of April, May and June 1991. To support this, Webb presented a Certification issued by the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service of August 31, 1995 confirming that his entry into that country was recorded. The court also amended the award of damages from 100,000 pesos to 200,000 pesos, and also upheld the conviction of Biong as accessory to the crime "by abusing his public functions to conceal and destroy the physical evidence in order to prevent the discovery of the crime and by allowing the destruction of the physical evidence, Biong facilitated the escape of the principal accused. But to Judge Amelita Tolentino of the Paranaque Regional Trial Court, the truth was the account of star witness Jessica Alfaro. May I invite you to watch?). 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! She also said that Bing was accosting Ging Rodriguez on why he had to stab and kill a young girl. 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. The readers will notice soon enough the brevity of each topic. Herbas and Alejo worked for the Abadillas as security guards. vs. People of the Philippines et al., 1997, G.R. Episode on July 5, 2011 Tuesday after Saksi! The SC rendered its judgment on the Abadilla case on September 7 and on the Vizconde case on December 14 of this year [2010]. LIKE me to support Mr. Vizconde No acquittal has been made as to the two accused, Filart and Ventura, who remain at-large. G.R. . Apart from Alejo, earlier there was another witness, Merlito Herbas. 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. Therefore, the applications of the SC on evaluating the defence of alibi of the accused have not been equally applied in these two cases. I incurred the ire of the citizenry, including some of my fellow columnists in theInquirer,for my defense of Hubert. starring Kris Aquino as Carmela Vizconde. By continuing to browse the site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. The SC acquitted all the accused, reversing and dismissing the guilty verdict of the RTC and the CA. Based on my findings, I defended Hubert in my column and in my radio and TV programs. 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. [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. The prosecutors, the RTC and the CA have been made aware of this fact by the defence. 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. 185123/G.R. 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. She had been hanging around that agency for sometime as a stool pigeon, one paid for mixing up with criminals and squealing on them. 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. God does not teach us to retaliate. [49], On January 4, 2011, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said suspect Joey Filart was spotted in the United States. This contradicted Hubert Webb's claim that he was in the United States from March 9, 1991, to October 27, 1992. All of us who have cases in court, dont we realize that if your opponent has money, brace yourself. 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. 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. [51] On March 18, Hubert Webb filed a lawsuit against Jessica Alfaro for false testimony at the Paraaque Prosecutor's Office. They cannot be the bases of conviction as they cannot substitute for the constitutional requirement of proof of guilt beyond reasonable doubt. 176864), it became one of the most sensational cases in the Philippines, being described as a "trial of the century". 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. 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." [15] The accused alleged that by rejecting 132 of the 142 pieces of evidence, Tolentino had set the tone for their conviction. 132577 People of the Philippines vs. Hubert Jeffrey P. Webb, 1999, G.R. 2. But I could not work there), Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption chairman. 182555/G.R. 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. [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. 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. She observed Hubert was quite irritated, uneasy, and walked to and fro inside his room. This was a case that was solved nine years after the murders and then unsolved 10 years later. This column will tackle various topics on the days it will come out: Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. No. 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 that, contrary to his alibi, released murder convict Hubert Webb never left the country. Vizconde Massacre Case Digest - Philippine True Crime Stories | Martin Rules. Vizconde Massacre Case - Pinoy Stories Police assets are often criminals themselves. [50], On January 18, 2011, the Supreme Court denied Lauro Vizconde's motion to reverse the acquittal because of double jeopardy. 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. Lauro Vizconde: "Is there still anyone among you who doubts that there is rampant corruption in our government? 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. 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. 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. October 1, 1996 Judge Amelita Tolentino of the Paraaque RTC rejected 132 of the defense's 142 pieces of evidence. [22], On October 8, 2010, Webb filed an urgent motion for acquittal. Two of the accused have also been acquitted by the RTC on the basis of their defence of alibis. 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. 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 . 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. The Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption(VACC) asked Justice Antonio Carpio and his cousin Justice Conchita Carpio-Morales to take a leave while the case is being decided to avoid undue influence on the court's decision. [4] In the Trial Court (People of the Philippines vs. Hubert Webb, et al., G.R. The men were released on Dec. 14 last year, after the Supreme Court dismissed the testimony of star witness Jessica Alfaro against Webb. On the contrary, it reopens it. On June 30, 1991, Estrellita Vizconde and her two daughters: Carmela and Jennifer, were found lifeless inside their home in Paraaque. No. This is one of the most controversial and widely publicised massacre cases because of the involvement of the son of a former Philippine . Massacre era. [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. 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. He was sentenced to eleven years in prison. All of these had been applied in acquitting the accused in the Vizconde case, which is contradictory to its earlier decision affirming the conviction of the Abadilla Five. Massacre era | PEP.ph 127262 Hubert Webb, et al. Firstly, the SC held Alfaro was not a credible witness. Her mother, Estrellita, 47, and sister, Jennifer, 7, were also killed. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Webb's reliance on the presumption of regularity of official functions, stressing the fact that the US-INS certifications are official documents, is misplaced. This policewoman is either ignorant of the law or plain lazy. On the night of June 29, 1991, Asuncion was supposed to have a sleepover with Jennifer at the latters home in Paraaque City. The Supreme Court acquitted them on Dec. 14, 2010. 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. Di naman ako puwede magtrabaho don (If that's the case, then I should have had a salary. They were victims of gory murder; Carmela was raped before she was killed. Another accused, Joey Filart also fled to the United States. Of the 15 Justices, 7 voted for acquittal while four dissented and four Justices, including Carpio, did not participate.[27][28]. About the Show; You May Also Like . 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. Aug 5, 2008. She did not show up at the NBI as a spontaneous witness (only after four years) bothered by her conscience. Nine years later, still no clarity on EDCA sites. No. On December 14, 2010, the SC rendered its decision on the appeals of the accused, questioning the guilty verdict by the RTC and the CA. The Vizconde massacre made headlines in the Philippines in the '90s and started a trend in filmmaking. 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. The High Court put to question the quality of the testamentary evidence furnished by the witnesses. 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. 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. 1. ABADILLA MURDER CASE: This case is about the murder of Rolando Abadilla, a police colonel during Marcos regime, at 8:30 on June 13, 1996 at the Katipunan Avenue, Quezon City. 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." [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. [29] 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. 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." But feeling uneasy, she decided to go up to the stockroom near Hubert's room to see what he was doing. Alejo had been under the Abadillas custody and protection instead of that of the WPP of the government. No. Cabanacan said Webb had entered the subdivision (where the Vizconde house was located) a few days before the massacre and that he even identified himself as the son of then Congressman Webb. She said the same MRT provided data that several Webbs arrived in the country, including Hubert, sometime in October 1992. [5] The other defendants were convicted by the Paraaque Regional Trial Court, which the Court of Appeals affirmed. 3. [29], The court said that "among the accused, Webb presented the strongest alibi". 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. New Vizconde massacre witness found | Inquirer News 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. Anyone can be paid! The prescription period does not matter to me, its just a date, he said. The passing away of Lauro Vizconde a few days ago does not close the sad chapter on the tragedy known as the Vizconde massacre. With Romeo Vasquez, Elizabeth Oropesa, Robert Arevalo, Tommy Abuel. The lower courts, the Supreme Court said, held that "Webb was actually in Paraaque when the Vizconde killings took place". [48] Other witnesses say Webb was in the Philippines at the time of the murders. Who does forget the heart-crushing 1991 Visconde massacre, with Jessica Alfaro standing as the star witness, whistle-blowing the details how these young men before, coming from our society's influential families, killed Mang Lauro's wife and his two daughters. Knowing this, I cannot but hesitate to swallow everything that Alejo said at the trial. His intention was very, very dubious, he said. It is that simple. The Vizconde massacre, dubbed the crime of the 20th century, was my defining moment as a columnist and defender of the oppressed and those. 176864 People of the Philippines vs. Hubert Webb, et. [54] He was laid to rest at Manila Memorial Park Sucat on February 17. InAbadilla case: The SC affirmed the CAs judgement as inconclusive the use of forensic evidence, for example, the fingerprints and ballistic test results, showing that none of the five accused had their fingerprints match to those extracted from the murder victims car. But the grieving father couldn't distinguish the truth from the lies. Published July 4, 2011 7:24pm. 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.