The Supreme Court acquitted them on Dec. 14, 2010. By continuing, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. 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,. Webbs son, Hubert Jeffrey, is also the brother of a television host, Pinky, in one of the largest television networks in the country. The SCs decision in acquitting all the accused in the Vizconde case has fundamental contradictions to its earlier decision affirming the guilty verdict of the accused in the Abadilla case. Two of the accused have also been acquitted by the RTC on the basis of their defence of alibis. The Vizconde Massacre. April 28, 1995 Jessica Alfaro presents herself as a witness and accuses Hubert Webb. Alfaro had testified that she knew the suspects and was at the Vizconde house when the crime was committed. Acting solely on Alfaros testimony, the Department of Justice (DoJ) filed charges of rape with homicide against the eight accused on August 1995. 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. 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. A police officer, Gerardo Biong, has also been charged for destroying the evidence at the crime scene. The AHRC urges the SC to thoroughly review the pending final appeal of the accused in the Abadilla case. Don't miss out on the latest news and information. 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. G.R. InAbadilla case: Both the RTC and the CA did not apply this test of credibility of a witness before accepting the testimony of Alejo. I would not have ended up like this if you had not neglected me). The case was featured on a Philippine TV show Case Unclosed as its ninth episode, "Vizconde Massacre Case. Vizconde Massacre: The hidden Truth. Be consoled that the truth will always come out, Hernandez advised Vizconde. 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. [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. Thus the SC decision on the Vizconde massacre is flawed, Paguia averred, citing a portion of Fortich v. Corona, 312 SCRA 751, at 758 where the SC itself ruled that unless the minimum number of EIGHT votes for a majority is attained there is no decision to speak of, therefore the release order of the Webb group should not have been signed. Indeed, the testimony of a single witness, when positive and credible, is sufficient to support a conviction even for murder. Tolentino also said, the photographs and videotapes purportedly showing Webb in the United States appeared to be tampered. 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. God would be stupid to borrow Digongs words if He gifts him the vice presidency the second time around. Early Thursday, Lauro Vizconde went to Holy Cross Memorial Park and laid bouquets of roses on the tombs of his wife and daughters. De Lima said the evidence that showed Webb and any of the co-accused were in the country came from the magnetic reel tape (MRT) of the Philippine Bureau of Immigration (BI) where all records of incoming and outgoing passengers from the Philippines are recorded. 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. September 7, 2010http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2010/september2010/182555.htm December 14, 2010:http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2010/december2010/176389.htm The Truth about Mendiola Massacre - Philippine True Crime Stories | Martin Rules. [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. [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". The unconstitutionality of prior restraint. I will continue to play that role as long as I live. [2] Two of the accused remain fugitives from the law: Joey Filart and Artemio Ventura. Similar to the accused in the Vizconde case, all the accused in the Abadilla case invoked their defence of alibi. 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. Besides the horror itself, the suspected perpetrators included high-society figures. ), 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 prescription period does not matter to me, its just a date, he said. The presumption leaned on is disputable and can be overcome by evidence to the contrary. When the accused appealed the decision, the Court of Appeals (CA) affirmed the judgement of conviction by the RTC. 150 likes. You are just a few clicks away from making 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. Im still hoping for a miracle to happen.
The Vizconde massacre revisited | ABS-CBN News The NBI is a special investigating body attached to the DoJ. The readers will notice soon enough the brevity of each topic. Vizconde Massacre Case Digest - Philippine True Crime Stories | Martin Rules. Webb was the prime suspect of the infamous homicide that occurred on June 30, 1991. The most significant topic that Ive ever written about and which I personally got involved in was the Vizconde massacre. I also updated them on the new twist in the investigation. Alejo confirmed these two (2) as the persons he saw from his guard post walking to and fro before the shooting incident. October 1, 1996 Judge Amelita Tolentino of the Paraaque RTC rejected 132 of the defense's 142 pieces of evidence. [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. She did not show up at the NBI as a spontaneous witness (only after four years) bothered by her conscience. Since I was introduced to The STAR readers in the front page, Ill hit the ground running. 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. Pray to them. Webb presented certifications from the U.S. Immigration but he failed to submit as evidence in court the original copy of his passport with immigration entry stamped on it. Defence of Alibi: In Vizconde case not admissible, in Abadilla case court acted on conjectures. 124871, May 13, 2004. 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. [13][14], Other prosecution witnesses were: Carlos J. Cristobal who alleged that on March 9, 1991, he was a passenger of United Airlines Flight No. 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. Thus, her testimony could not be admitted. Still seeking justice for his family's grim fate, Lauro Vizconde exhausts all resources available to him. :Isumbongwill make a comeback on PTV-4 on June 12, 2021. For those who havent heard aboutIsumbong, the public service program started at Radyo Veritas on June 1, 1991. The court ruled that Alfaro was "a stool pigeon, one who earned her living by fraternizing with criminals so she could squeal on them to her NBI handlers." Kung di ninyo ako pinabayaan, 'di ako magkakaganito. (Fuck you all! They cannot be the bases of conviction as they cannot substitute for the constitutional requirement of proof of guilt beyond reasonable doubt. A local elected official whos being groomed to run for a national office is being sold to the highest bidder by the politicians spouse. True Crime. I got involved in the case after Webb told me Hubert, whose name was slowly cropping up in news reports as a prime suspect, was in the United States when the dastardly crime happened. No. (Update 6:47 p.m.) The Supreme Court (SC) has cast doubts on the credibility of Jessica Alfaro, the so-called star witness in the gruesome killings of three members of the Vizconde family almost two decades ago. 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. 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.
Vizconde massacre case: Back to square one | ABS-CBN News 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. 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. No. [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. ", 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.
Vizconde massacre. [50], On January 18, 2011, the Supreme Court denied Lauro Vizconde's motion to reverse the acquittal because of double jeopardy. 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. 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. [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. Your subscription could not be saved.
VIZCONDE MASSACRE: After 20 Years | GMA News Online Please try again. This was a case that was solved nine years after the murders and then unsolved 10 years later. 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. 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. She had been hanging around that agency for sometime as a stool pigeon, one paid for mixing up with criminals and squealing on them. 127262 Hubert Webb, et al. However, keep in mind not to be vindictive. 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. [60] Mario, a hair stylist during the period June 1991, testified that Webb, along with Tony Boy Lejano and Dong Ventura had their haircut. LIKE me to support Mr. Vizconde I am not an NBI agent nor an NBI asset. 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. Indeed, if the accused is truly innocent, he can have no other defense but denial and alibi. He and six others spent 15 years in jail. [139] Against positive evidence, alibi becomes most unsatisfactory. Credibility of a witness: In Vizconde case not credible, but credible in the Abadilla case. Eh di sana may sweldo ako. 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 trial began in August 1995 before Paraaque RTC Judge Amelita Tolentino. And while justice seems elusive, life must go on, Vizcondes grandniece Katherine Asuncion said, reading from a family statement. This site uses cookies. This is one of the most controversial and widely publicised massacre cases because of the involvement of the son of a former Philippine . He alleged that he could not forget Webb because Biong had allegedly threatened him, Do not cheat him. : Directed by Carlo J. Caparas. Three days after that, he was allegedly approached by Mrs. Webb who reportedly told him, You did not see anything. A week after, Sen. Freddie Webb allegedly told him, You did not see anything.
Violent Vizconde Massacre | Crimes That Shocked Asia - YouTube Alibi cannot prevail over the positive identification of a credible witness [140].. No acquittal has been made as to the two accused, Filart and Ventura, who remain at-large. 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. 132577 People of the Philippines vs. Hubert Jeffrey P. Webb, 1999, G.R. But feeling uneasy, she decided to go up to the stockroom near Hubert's room to see what he was doing. Am I dismayed by the decision of the (Supreme Court)? At any rate, Rameses de Jesus admitted that they were using the new car of Lenido Lumanog. Rodolfo Sison, the police investigator originally assigned to the case in 1991. But the grieving father couldn't distinguish the truth from the lies. No. She said that when she entered Hubert's room, she saw him wearing only his pants, awake and smoking in bed. 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. a contribution to Human Rights work, Asian Human Rights Commission This is a violation of the duty of state." But Custodio admits this may be easier said than done. I expected this decision because since the start, I knew that Jessica Alfaro was not entirely telling the truth. 'Ms. 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. Jennifer Diaz, chief of the women and childrens desk, told Allan to file the complaint with the barangay where they reside. 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].