Hong Kong Six months is not enough for him to clean up the Aegean stable that is the PNP. 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. 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. Evid. 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. Kaya laban lang tayo. No. By continuing to browse the site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Lejano and Ventura also took turns raping Carmela, before finishing her off with numerous stabs. In the said stockroom, there is a small door going to Hubert's room and in that door there is a small opening where she used to see Hubert and his friends sniffing on something. 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. She said the same MRT provided data that several Webbs arrived in the country, including Hubert, sometime in October 1992. Eighteen-year-old daughter Carmela was raped, and had 17 stab wounds. [5] The other defendants were convicted by the Paraaque Regional Trial Court, which the Court of Appeals affirmed. The Vizconde Massacre. 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 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. The SC, however, held that by failing to prove the existence of a relationship between Hubert and Carmela; and that the lover that Alfaro claimed that Carmela had met did not come forward in public or in court, her testimonies about the accused and the victims were like a piece of jigsaw puzzle trimmed to fit into the shape on the board but does not belong because it clashes with the surrounding pieces and the lover was a mere ghost of the imagination of Alfaro, the woman who made a living informing on criminals. [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. 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. 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. al., 2010, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Vizconde_murders&oldid=1138122178, Loss of DNA evidence not a ground for outright acquittal. Biong walks free, insists he's innocent | ABS-CBN News On the night of June 29, 1991, Asuncion was supposed to have a sleepover with Jennifer at the latters home in Paraaque City. He also claimed to have heard Hubert shout, Putang ina nyo! October 1, 1996 Judge Amelita Tolentino of the Paraaque RTC rejected 132 of the defense's 142 pieces of evidence. Be consoled that the truth will always come out, Hernandez advised Vizconde. al, 1995, G.R. God does not teach us to retaliate. 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. 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. The women were found dead with multiple stab wounds and no witnesses, murder weapons or motive have been uncovered. 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. 182555/G.R. VIZCONDE MASSACRE: After 20 Years | GMA News Online [citation needed] (The Philippine Rules of Evidence require official attestation of the authenticity of any public document presented in evidence; as per Sec. ", 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. 127262 Hubert Webb, et al. 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. White was mistaken in saying that Gatchalian and company went in and out of the gated community many times, since they only entered once. They were victims of gory murder; Carmela was raped before she was killed. But to Judge Amelita Tolentino of the Paranaque Regional Trial Court, the truth was the account of star witness Jessica Alfaro. Alfaro had testified that she knew the suspects and was at the Vizconde house when the crime was committed. A second movie, The Untold Story: Vizconde Massacre II, was released in 1994. The SC required this test as necessary before a testimony of positive identification could be accepted as credible and with merit. X' key to real perpetrators of Vizconde murders? Im still hoping for a miracle to happen. 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. With your meaningful insights, help shape the stories that can shape the country. This coincided with his passport and Philippine Immigration records but were dismissed by Tolentino due to belief that these documents can possibly be falsified. 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. This policewoman is either ignorant of the law or plain lazy. 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. The RTC, however, acquitted Delos Santos despite being positively identified also by Alejo as one of those who was present at the crime scene. . Tolentino also said, the photographs and videotapes purportedly showing Webb in the United States appeared to be tampered. The Jessica Alfaro Story in 1995 was meanwhile focused on the star witness, portrayed by Alice Dixson. 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. I stood my ground because I had all the facts in my hand. I did that hoping to make them have second thoughts about doing so,.There is no justice in the Philippines. Envy aliens who can avoid PH; pity Pinoys who are stuck here. The filming location took place in the actual home of the Vizconde's where the massacre took place on June 30, 1991. 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. Birrer said she had accompanied Biong to the Vizconde house to destroy the evidence and to retrieve Webb's jacket and the murder weapon. But in the Abadilla case, the relatives and friends are not an impartial witness to corroborate the defence of alibi of the accused. Connections Followed by The Untold Story: Vizconde Massacre II - May the Lord Be with Us! [139] Against positive evidence, alibi becomes most unsatisfactory. 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. 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). Apart from Alejo, earlier there was another witness, Merlito Herbas. 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. She did not show up at the NBI as a spontaneous witness (only after four years) bothered by her conscience. I was a barbarian in my college years at the University of the Philippines. Defence of Alibi: In Vizconde case not admissible, in Abadilla case court acted on conjectures. Hubert argued that the specimen could exonerate him from the charge and support his defence that he did not rape the victim. 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. Movie producers and directors rode the wave of public outcry by creating true-to-life films based on such heinous crimes. Vizconde should go after the national government. It is hard to believe this there is a record of supposed arrival from other country but no record of departure in 1991 or in any month of 1991, she said. 1. The Supreme Court acquitted them on Dec. 14, 2010. The Vizconde Massacre | Shows | discovery+ This site uses cookies. 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. starring Kris Aquino as Carmela Vizconde. Rey and Jerry claimed they saw Webb playing basketball between the months of June and July 1991 during a league in BF Homes. 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. By continuing, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. She took advantage of her familiarity with these details to include in her testimony. Sulu in the eyes of my good friend Princess Jacel Kiram is a potential eco-tourism destination and fruit basket of the country. 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. It is time to heal the past. 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. Firstly, the SC held Alfaro was not a credible witness. SC slams 'unbelievable' testimony of Vizconde massacre witness. Footnote: This article comprises the text of a statement issued by the Asian Human Rights Commission, AHRC-STM-266-2010, dated 21 December 2010. (1994) Details Release date June 24, 1993 (Philippines) Country of origin Philippines Languages English Filipino Tagalog Filming locations Vizconde Massacre Case Digest - Philippine True Crime Stories - Anchor He and six others spent 15 years in jail. 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 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. Eh di sana may sweldo ako. vs. Raul de Leon et. The Vizconde Massacre was the multiple homicide of members of the Vizconde family on June 30, 1991 at their residence in BF Homes, Paraaque, Metro Manila, Philippines. 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. Executive M/Sgt. On June 30, 1991, Estrellita Vizconde and her two daughters: Carmela and Jennifer, were found lifeless inside their home in Paraaque. While washing Hubert Webb's clothing, Gaviola said she noticed fresh bloodstains on his shirt. [4] In the Trial Court (People of the Philippines vs. Hubert Webb, et al., G.R. Two of the accused have also been acquitted by the RTC on the basis of their defence of alibis. 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 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. . Vizconde Massacre | FreebookSummary Both Webb and del Toro could not describe in court what Hubert's work was, Tolentino said. Visconde Masscre - Weebly 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. Manila Times Special Report on the Vizconde Case, G.R. "[21], In April 2010, the Supreme Court approved DNA testing to be performed on the semen specimen obtained during autopsy from Carmela Vizconde. [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. 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. 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. It was Alejo who had positively identified Joel and Lorenzo (delos Santos) during a police line-up. Thus, it was not surprising for Alfaro to testify with great details in court. Violent Vizconde Massacre | Crimes That Shocked Asia - YouTube 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. The people urging President Rodrigo Digong Duterte to run for vice president in the 2022 elections are making fun of him. [2][20], The court ruled that the Paraaque RTC was correct in sentencing Webb et al. February 26, 2021. . 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. No two persons have the same DNA fingerprint, with the exception of identical twins. Hubert Webb - Wikipedia [2][12] Security guards Justo Cabanacan and Normal White. 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]. Once again, the SCs applications of jurisprudence on the admissibility of forensic evidence in criminal trial have not been equally applied. Massacre era | PEP.ph The Vizconde massacre: Justice not served - BusinessMirror The men were released on Dec. 14 last year, after the Supreme Court dismissed the testimony of star witness Jessica Alfaro against Webb. The fight is not over. As already mentioned, the SC concluded Alfaro to be not a credible witness because she did not meet these two criteria. 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". Tolentino also found it hard to believe that Webb was working with a pesticide company because he was asthmatic and allergic to various substances. And while justice seems elusive, life must go on, Vizcondes grandniece Katherine Asuncion said, reading from a family statement. Biong was released from jail on November 30, 2010, after serving his sentence. So, some sectors are calling for Eleazars extension until after the May 2022 elections. 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. Her mother, Estrellita, 47, and sister, Jennifer, 7, were also killed. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Vizconde said he was optimistic about finding more witnesses.. For those who havent heard aboutIsumbong, the public service program started at Radyo Veritas on June 1, 1991. I expected this decision because since the start, I knew that Jessica Alfaro was not entirely telling the truth. On the contrary, it reopens it. The Untold Story: Vizconde Massacre II - May the Lord Be with Us! - IMDb 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. vs. People of the Philippines et al., 1997, G.R. Vizconde massacre timeline | Philstar.com Carpio testified for the defense during the trial. [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. 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. 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 most significant topic that Ive ever written about and which I personally got involved in was the Vizconde massacre. 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. De Lima also said seven new witnesses claimed they saw Webb in the country during the months of April, May and June 1991. 'Hubert Webb was in PH during Vizconde massacre' - ABS-CBN News 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. I also updated them on the new twist in the investigation. [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. [6], Alfaro's testimony coincided with the angle that was being explored by Supt. Choose Gods endless kind of love., Hernandez also reminded Vizconde that he now had three saints in Heaven.. The prescription period does not matter to me, its just a date, he said. The 47-year-old Estrellita had 13 stab wounds. Fax: +(852) 2698 6367, Copyright 2023 Asian Human Rights Commission. 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. I will continue to play that role as long as I live. 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. All rights are reserved. The ballistic test results also did not match to any of the firearms supposedly taken from the accused to the empty shells that were recovered at the crime scene. [60] Mario, a hair stylist during the period June 1991, testified that Webb, along with Tony Boy Lejano and Dong Ventura had their haircut. No. The Murder of an Entire Family While Dad Was Abroad for Work Remember that death is the ultimate equalizer. InAbadilla case: The SC admitted the positive identification of witness Freddie Alejo when it considered him a credible witness. [9] They were acquitted by a trial judge in September 1993 for insufficient evidence.[9]. [12] (Under Philippine law, generally, alibi is the weakest defense, especially where there is direct testimony of an eyewitness, duly corroborated by another. No. 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. Di naman ako puwede magtrabaho don (If that's the case, then I should have had a salary. 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.
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