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InVizconde case: The SC has given weight to the importance of forensic evidence in a court trial. 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. New Vizconde massacre witness found | Inquirer News Hopefully, if they will surface, public pressure will snowball and I will finally get the justice I am looking for, he said. People vs. Bello, G.R. But in the Abadilla case, not only did the SC affird the CAs ruling in rejecting the defence of alibi, it did not also question the CAs formulation of conjectures on which it based its judgement. Biong was released from jail on November 30, 2010, after serving his sentence. Originally, there were seven accused charged in this case. Vizconde massacre timeline | Philstar.com [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. The court argued that the cited case has been superseded by Arizona v. Youngblood, "where the U.S. Supreme Court held that due process does not require the State to preserve the semen specimen although it might be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". Includes gruesome real photos from the crime scene. [6], Alfaro's testimony coincided with the angle that was being explored by Supt. The prosecutors, the RTC and the CA have been made aware of this fact by the defence. 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. The High Court put to question the quality of the testamentary evidence furnished by the witnesses. [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]. 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. 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 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. Knowing this, I cannot but hesitate to swallow everything that Alejo said at the trial. 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. I can't express enough how sad and unjust today's story. The court also said that it was "possible for Alfaro to lie" on the details of the case. 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. [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". [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. [15] The accused alleged that by rejecting 132 of the 142 pieces of evidence, Tolentino had set the tone for their conviction. Let the love of God prevail. I expected this decision because since the start, I knew that Jessica Alfaro was not entirely telling the truth. October 1, 1996 Judge Amelita Tolentino of the Paraaque RTC rejected 132 of the defense's 142 pieces of evidence. Eighteen-year-old daughter Carmela was raped, and had 17 stab wounds. 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. Eleazar, a strict disciplinarian, is probably the only PNP chief who is loved and respected by the citizenry. December 14, 2010:http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2010/december2010/176389.htm In the Vizconde case, the SC does not accept conjecture as the basis of its decision. This page was last edited on 8 February 2023, at 03:37. The passing away of Lauro Vizconde a few days ago does not close the sad chapter on the tragedy known as the Vizconde massacre. He and six others spent 15 years in jail. Herbas and Alejo worked for the Abadillas as security guards. VIZCONDE MASSACRE: After 20 Years | GMA News Online 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 jurisprudence mentioned above that the SC invoked has not been equally applied. This is one of the most controversial and widely publicised massacre cases because of the involvement of the son of a former Philippine . Alfaro also said that she bumped into Biong at the Faces Disco in Makati in March 1995 and relayed to her the offer of the group to give her a free ticket to the United States to shut her up. Francisco Kit Hernandez celebrated Mass. No. I stand by my story. Similar to the accused in the Vizconde case, all the accused in the Abadilla case invoked their defence of alibi. Another accused, Joey Filart also fled to the United States. Many of the stories in my columns in previous newspapers were complaints from citizens. Yes, but what can I do (?). 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. On April 28, 1995, National Bureau of Investigations asset and self-confessed drug user Jessica Alfaro came forward to police authorities to shed light on the killing of the Vizconde family. 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. Alejos testimonies in open court were also not consistent to what he had said to the police investigators immediately after the murder. The Supreme Court acquitted them on Dec. 14, 2010. You will regret it.[58][59] Jack, a village security guard who kept records of the village where Webb lived said he saw Hubert Webb during the time of the massacre. He also ordered the Secretary of Justice Leila de Lima to study the possibility of giving compensation to Webb and others. Once again, the SCs applications of jurisprudence on the admissibility of forensic evidence in criminal trial have not been equally applied. I stood my ground because I had all the facts in my hand. 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. 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. Youd be surprised who the people are behind the call for his extension; some of them are top politicians. Jubilation by the citizenry greeted the report of his appointment. 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. 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. 5. [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". They cannot be the bases of conviction as they cannot substitute for the constitutional requirement of proof of guilt beyond reasonable doubt. 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. I will continue to play that role as long as I live. 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. The Vizconde Massacre: God, Help Us! - sirasa.dixiesewing.com Shades of what happened in the 2004 elections, when a national official was paid a huge sum to run under a political party. 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. Estrellita, Carmela and Jennifer Vizconde. Vizconde massacre. The 47-year-old Estrellita had 13 stab wounds. Connections Followed by The Untold Story: Vizconde Massacre II - May the Lord Be with Us! Movie producers and directors rode the wave of public outcry by creating true-to-life films based on such heinous crimes. 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. No. Firstly, like Alfaro, Alejo also received money and free accommodation from the persons who had interest in his testimony. (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. [57] The witnesses include an electrician, a drug dealer, a couple of neighborhood basketball players, a hairdresser and a village security guard. The Vizconde massacre, dubbed the crime of the 20th century, was my defining moment as a columnist and defender of the oppressed and those. Herbas had testified for the defence instead of the prosecution when the Abadilla did not fulfil his promise to give him (Herbas) exactly the same salary he was receiving and when he was told that he would no longer be presented as witness because the testimony of Alejo would be sufficient. I would not have ended up like this if you had not neglected me). They are Lenido Lumanog, Augusto Santos, Senior Police Officer 2 (SPO2) Cesar Fortuna, Rameses de Jesus and Joel de Jesus. [50], On January 18, 2011, the Supreme Court denied Lauro Vizconde's motion to reverse the acquittal because of double jeopardy. Please try again. This site uses cookies. It is said that being elected president is a gift from God. He also claimed to have heard Hubert shout, Putang ina nyo! For almost two decades, Filipinos have been mystified by the brutal 1991 killing of a mother and her two daughters. "I doubt that at this time, physical evidence will be available because a lapse of time has taken place, but that's the only way we can find the true killers." Run after Alfaro 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. I will kill you, brandishing a shiny revolver. 16:53. Call 896 6000. Choose Gods endless kind of love., Hernandez also reminded Vizconde that he now had three saints in Heaven.. As a result, the court reverses the decision of the Court of Appeals, and acquits Webb, et al. Vizconde Massacre Case Digest - Philippine True Crime Stories | Martin Rules. References: The court said that Alfaro was not a credible witness and that her "story of what she personally saw must be believable, not inherently contrived". For those who havent heard aboutIsumbong, the public service program started at Radyo Veritas on June 1, 1991. Indeed, if the accused is truly innocent, he can have no other defense but denial and alibi. Birrer said she had accompanied Biong to the Vizconde house to destroy the evidence and to retrieve Webb's jacket and the murder weapon. 3. 182555/G.R. 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. As already mentioned, the SC concluded Alfaro to be not a credible witness because she did not meet these two criteria. 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. The prescription period does not matter to me, its just a date, he said. 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 . For example, I was the first one to report the shooting of 16-year-old Maureen Hultman and her boyfriend by the son of former chief justice Claudio Teehankee in 1991 in my column at theInquirer, because the girls stepfather, Anders, a Swede, came to myIsumbongoffice at Radyo Veritas. 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. 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. White was mistaken in saying that Gatchalian and company went in and out of the gated community many times, since they only entered once. 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. 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. The court noted the inconsistency between Alfaro's testimony of Webb being Carmela's boyfriend, who had no reason in breaking the glass panel of the house's front door to enter the house; Alfaro said that Webb "picked up some stone and, out of the blue, hurled it at the glass-paneled front door". The AHRC urges the SC to thoroughly review the pending final appeal of the accused in the Abadilla case. The Jessica Alfaro Story in 1995 was meanwhile focused on the star witness, portrayed by Alice Dixson. SC acquits Hubert Webb, 6 others in Vizconde massacre Indeed, the testimony of a single witness, when positive and credible, is sufficient to support a conviction even for murder. February 26, 2021. . [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]. 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. The Vizconde massacre has been dubbed as the trial of the century as the accused hailed from prominent families of the Philippines. Episode on July 5, 2011 Tuesday after Saksi! The Truth about Mendiola Massacre - Philippine True Crime Stories | Martin Rules. InVizconde case: Jessica Alfaros positive identification was rejected because she did not meet the test of a credible witness and that what she personally saw must be believable, not inherently contrived. No two persons have the same DNA fingerprint, with the exception of identical twins. 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. The other accused were Artemio Dong Ventura, Michael A. Gatchalian, Hospicio Pyke Fernandez, Peter Estrada, Miguel Ging Rodriguez, and Joey Filart. Sign up now! A local elected official whos being groomed to run for a national office is being sold to the highest bidder by the politicians spouse. Secondly, in the Abadilla case the SC held that the defense of alibi is weak, but in the Vizconde case it held that not all denials and alibis should be regarded as fabricated. Alfaro had testified that she knew the suspects and was at the Vizconde house when the crime was committed. 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. 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. 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. April 28, 1995 Jessica Alfaro presents herself as a witness and accuses Hubert Webb. 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. Lauro Vizconde: "Is there still anyone among you who doubts that there is rampant corruption in our government? After 15 years behind bars, Hubert Webb and 5 others in the Vizconde massacre case (Manila-Philippines) were released from prison on Tuesday. When she could not produce the person, Sacaguing continued to press her saying that she might as well assume the role of her informant.. Therefore, the applications of the SC on evaluating the defence of alibi of the accused have not been equally applied in these two cases. 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. The court also said that if Webb was in the U.S. when the crime was committed, the Alfaro's testimony would not hold together: "Without it, the evidence against the others must necessarily fall. 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. 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. [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. InAbadilla case: The SC admitted the positive identification of witness Freddie Alejo when it considered him a credible witness. 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. Both Webb and del Toro could not describe in court what Hubert's work was, Tolentino said. [2] Alfaro said that policeman Gerardo Biong "was instructed by Webb, in my presence, to take care of the house where the incident happened". Even if we were denied justice, I consoled them that at least people already know what really happened, he said. 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. She took advantage of her familiarity with these details to include in her testimony. 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. 121234 Hubert Webb et al. (1994) Details Release date June 24, 1993 (Philippines) Country of origin Philippines Languages English Filipino Tagalog Filming locations Hubert Webb - Wikipedia [46], President Benigno Aquino III ordered the law enforcement agencies to re-investigate the case six months before the prescription period lapses. Webbs co-accused, Antonio Lejano, is a son of a known singer and celebrity. The Vizconde massacre revisited | ABS-CBN News The Vizconde massacre - my defining moment | Philstar.com But Villaramas opinion was not considered by the SC in their majority decision. Make a difference. I became a villain in the eyes of the citizenry that was crying for blood; but I was steadfast. Am I dismayed by the decision of the (Supreme Court)? [61], The findings also point to another set of suspects, namely Dong Villadolid and his brother Bing. Like Herbas, court records had also shown that Alejo has been receiving money and free accommodation from the Abadillas. Manila Times Special Report on the Vizconde Case, G.R. But I could not work there), Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption chairman. Abadilla Case Petition for Review on Certiorario:http://campaigns.ahrchk.net/abadilla5/docs/A5-FinalAppealPetition.pdf Alfaro said that when she went back to the house, she saw the bodies of Estrellita and Jennifer on the bed and Webb raping Carmela on the floor. By providing an email address. Early Thursday, Lauro Vizconde went to Holy Cross Memorial Park and laid bouquets of roses on the tombs of his wife and daughters. On the night of June 29, 1991, Asuncion was supposed to have a sleepover with Jennifer at the latters home in Paraaque City. 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. ", 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. No. 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. The tapes were restored by IBM while being monitored by the National Computer Center. 2. The SCs decision affirming the guilty verdict by the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Quezon City on the Abadilla Five, the five men accused in the murder of police colonel Rolando Abadilla on June 13, 1996, is already the subject of a final appeal filed on October 8, 2010. It cannot be coached or allured by a promise of reward or financial support. She had been hanging around that agency for sometime as a stool pigeon, one paid for mixing up with criminals and squealing on them. So, some sectors are calling for Eleazars extension until after the May 2022 elections. The presumption leaned on is disputable and can be overcome by evidence to the contrary. Vizconde Massacre Case - Pinoy Stories [8] If, on examination, the DNA of the subject specimen does not belong to Webb, then he did not rape Carmela. Jennifer Diaz, chief of the women and childrens desk, told Allan to file the complaint with the barangay where they reside. Remember that death is the ultimate equalizer. Equal protection of the law is fundamental in the countrys Constitution. I incurred the ire of the citizenry, including some of my fellow columnists in theInquirer,for my defense of Hubert.