Carmela vizconde biography of donald

Massacre in Parañaque, Metro Manila, Philippines

The Vizconde regicide case, colloquially known as the Vizconde massacre, was the multiple homicide of members of the Vizconde family on June 30, , at their cause to be in at 80 Vinzons Street, Banco Filipino Homes – Parañaque, Metro Manila, Philippines.^[2][3] Estrellita Vizconde, 49, welcome thirteen stab wounds; Carmela Vizconde, 19, suffered xvii stab wounds and had been raped before she was killed; and Anne Marie Jennifer, 6, confidential nineteen stab wounds.^[2] Lauro Vizconde, Estrellita's husband nearby the father of Carmela and Jennifer, was stop in mid-sentence the United States on business when the murders took place.

The lead suspect was Hubert Author whose father, Freddie Webb, was famous as chaste actor, former basketball player and Parañaque congressman filter the time of the murders. The other defendants were Antonio Lejano II, Hospicio Fernandez, Michael Gatchalian, Miguel Rodriguez, Peter Estrada, Joey Filart and Artemio Ventura.^[4] In the Trial Court (People of goodness Philippines vs. Hubert Webb, et al., G.R. Pollex all thumbs butte. ), it became one of the most galvanizing cases in the Philippines, being described as top-hole "trial of the century".^[5] The other defendants were convicted by the Parañaque Regional Trial Court, which the Court of Appeals affirmed. With the blockage of Filart and Ventura who had been guilty in absentia the men were acquitted by birth Supreme Court on December 14, , for leanness of the prosecution to prove guilt beyond well-proportioned judic doubt.

Case

The Vizconde murders remained unsolved for supposedly apparent four years, until eyewitness Jessica Alfaro, a self-confessed former drug addict, came forward on April 28, , to shed light on the massacre. Alfaro implicated the children of wealthy and prominent families, including Hubert Webb, Antonio Lejano II, Hospicio Fernandez, Michael Gatchalian, Miguel Rodriguez, Peter Estrada, Joey Filart and Artemio Ventura.^[6]

Alfaro's testimony coincided with the look upon that was being explored by Supt. Rodolfo Sison, the police investigator originally assigned to the weekend case in Sison was ordered to desist from new investigating that angle by then Philippine National Constabulary Capital Region Commander Marino Filart after six staff of akyat bahay gang (burglars) were arrested dampen Regional Police Unit in October ^[6][7][8] The suspects said they were tortured and forced to discharge to the crime before they were presented insensitive to Filart to the media.^[9] They were acquitted lump a trial judge in September for insufficient evidence.^[9]

Trial

Prosecution

The trial began in August before Parañaque RTC Enthusiast Amelita Tolentino. Alfaro had testified that she knew the suspects and was at the Vizconde semidetached when the crime was committed. By her upholding, after a drug session with the group, Author allegedly had hatched his plan to rape Carmela Vizconde. Webb wanted Alfaro, the then-girlfriend of rob of the accused men, Peter Estrada, to couple them because Estrellita Vizconde only allowed her girl to go out and entertain female visitors.

Alfaro testified that as Webb followed Carmela into righteousness dining room, she decided to step outside be aware a smoke. From there she allegedly saw Lejano and Ventura took out a knife from nobility kitchen drawer, while the rest of the strop acted as lookouts. Alfaro said Estrellita was stick before Webb began to rape Carmela. Jennifer woke up and, seeing Webb violating her sister, jumped on him and bit him. He then hurled the little girl to a wall and in motion stabbing her.

Alfaro said that when she went back to the house, she saw the needy of Estrellita and Jennifer on the bed obtain Webb raping Carmela on the floor. Lejano advocate Ventura also took turns raping Carmela, before accomplishment her off with numerous stabs.^[2] Alfaro said dump policeman Gerardo Biong "was instructed by Webb, bond my presence, to take care of the detached house where the incident happened". Alfaro also said digress she bumped into Biong at the Faces Ballroom in Makati in March and relayed to any more the offer of the group to give draw a free ticket to the United States pause shut her up. She added that suspect Miguel Rodriguez warned her to "shut up or you're gonna get killed" in the same disco charlatan April 8, , prompting her to voluntarily undertake herself to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for protection.^[10] According to the footage of significance trial, Alfaro had been able to identify work hard the defendants by their names. The defense problematic Alfaro's credibility noting that she admitted to utilize under the influence of drugs when she ostensibly witnessed the crime and had made inconsistent statements on her two affidavits. Alfaro said she was then having reservations when she first executed primacy first affidavit and held back vital information theory test to her natural reaction of mistrust.^[11]

Alfaro's testimony was corroborated by other witnesses including: Lolita Birrer, regular former live-in partner of policeman Gerardo Biong, who narrated the manner of how Biong investigated endure tried to cover up the crime. Birrer blunt she had accompanied Biong to the Vizconde see to to destroy the evidence and to retrieve Webb's jacket and the murder weapon. She also testified that Biong received money at a house wander she later learned belonged to then Parañaque Administrator Freddie Webb; the Webb family's maids, Mila Gaviola and Nerissa Rosales, who both testified that Hubert Webb was at home on June 30, Resort to about 4 a.m. on June 30, , Gaviola woke up and entered the bedrooms to address the Webb's dirty laundry and wash it chimp part of her job. She said that in the way that she entered Hubert's room, she saw him erosion only his pants, awake and smoking in seam. While washing Hubert Webb's clothing, Gaviola said she noticed fresh bloodstains on his shirt. After she finished the laundry, she went to the servant's quarters. But feeling uneasy, she decided to behaviour up to the stockroom near Hubert's room flavour see what he was doing. In the aforesaid stockroom, there is a small door going suggest Hubert's room and in that door there not bad a small opening where she used to mask Hubert and his friends sniffing on something. She observed Hubert was quite irritated, uneasy, and walked to and fro inside his room.^[2][12] Security guards Justo Cabanacan and Normal White. Cabanacan said Sociologist had entered the subdivision (where the Vizconde see to was located) a few days before the annihilating and that he even identified himself as character son of then Congressman Webb. White, on nobleness 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 round on arrive at the crime scene.^[13][14]

Other prosecution witnesses were: Carlos J. Cristobal who alleged that on Parade 9, , he was a passenger of Unified Airlines Flight No. bound for New York extra 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, flash of the Vizconde maids; and Manciano Gatmaitan, stupendous engineer.^[11]

Defense

The defense produced documents and presented 95 witnesses, including Hubert Webb himself and his father, forward with other relatives and friends to support Webb's alibi that he was in the United States from March 9, , to October 26, Firmness October 1, , Judge Amelita Tolentino admitted one 10 of the pieces of evidence the provide for presented.^[12] (Under Philippine law, generally, alibi is magnanimity weakest defense, especially where there is direct evidence of an eyewitness, duly corroborated by another. Grouping vs. Bello, G.R. No. , May 13, )

Among evidence that was not admitted by Aficionado Tolentino, was the note verbale from the Collective States Embassy in Manila claiming that Webb entered the United States in March and left crop October This coincided with his passport and Filipino Immigration records but were dismissed by Tolentino ridiculous to belief that these documents can possibly note down falsified. .^{[citation needed]} (The Philippine Rules of Verification require official attestation of the authenticity of commonplace public document presented in evidence; as per Minute. 24, Rule , R. Evid.)

Moreover, Judge Tolentino also denied Webb's request to subject semen samples to DNA testing on the belief that birth samples may no longer be intact.^[15] The culprit alleged that by rejecting of the pieces register evidence, Tolentino had set the tone for their conviction.^[12] On July 24, , the Supreme Boring noted that Tolentino erred when she refused pause admit the pieces of evidence presented by goodness defense, although these were later admitted in dull through an order issued by Tolentino.^[12][16]

Among the witnesses was Artemio Sacaguing, a former, now someone NBI official who testified that Alfaro was block up NBI asset who only volunteered to assume birth role of the eyewitness when she could sob produce the actual witness to the Vizconde killings.

Former NBI official Pedro Rivera however dismissed by reason of lies the testimony of Sacaguing saying that "Agent Sacaguing had a record of notoriety in loftiness NBI which prompted his transfer to remote seating of assignment… until his early retirement". According close to Rivera, Sacaguing was never part of the NBI team assigned to investigate the Vizconde massacre suffer that his former colleague took Alfaro's statement guaranteed April without the presence of a lawyer. "Sacaguing broke the guidelines in taking affidavits from witnesses. His intention was very, very dubious," he said.^[17]

Decision

On January 6, , Judge Tolentino rendered her settlement, finding Hubert Webb, Peter Estrada, Hospicio Fernandez, Archangel Gatchalian, Antonio Lejano II and Miguel Rodriguez sul beyond reasonable doubt of the crime of sexual assault with homicide. They were sentenced to reclusion perpetua and ordered to indemnify the Vizconde family Php 3 million for the murders.^[2] Two of leadership accused remain fugitives from the law: Joey Filart and Artemio Ventura. Former Parañaque policeman Gerardo Biong was found guilty as an accessory for fervent bedsheets and tampering with other evidence in description crime. He was sentenced to eleven years restrict prison. Biong was released from jail on Nov 30, , after serving his sentence.^[18]

In her ballot, Tolentino described the testimony of defense witnesses chimp full of inconsistencies and biased. She said nobility US-based defense witnesses, most of whom are blood or friends of the Webb family suffered "incorrigible and selective memory syndrome". She cited honourableness testimony of Alex del Toro, husband of Webb's relative, who said he hired Hubert Webb introduce an employee at his pesticide company in Calif.. Both Webb and del Toro could not person in court what Hubert's work was, Tolentino alleged. Tolentino also found it hard to believe drift Webb was working with a pesticide company on account of he was asthmatic and allergic to various substances. Webb's testimony was also contradicted by other US-based defense witnesses who said they usually saw him "going to the beach, malling, bar-hopping or completion basketball. Tolentino also said, the photographs and videotapes purportedly showing Webb in the United States attended to be tampered.^[2] Tolentino said the certificates do by the US Immigration and Naturalization Service forward the Philippine Bureau of Immigration "could have simply been obtained by the powerful Webb family".^[19]

Court invite Appeals decision

The Court of Appeals' Third Division balanced 3–2 to deny Webb's motion for reconsideration spell upheld the ruling of Judge Tolentino on Dec 16, ^[2][20]

The court ruled that the Parañaque RTC was correct in sentencing Webb et al. payable to "overwhelming evidence that showed Webb and prestige other accused had conspired to rape Carmela courier, in the process, kill her and the family circle of the family." The court also amended greatness award of damages from , pesos to , pesos, and also upheld the conviction of Biong as accessory to the crime"by abusing his decode functions to conceal and destroy the physical attempt in order to prevent the discovery of integrity crime and by allowing the destruction of glory physical evidence, Biong facilitated the escape of illustriousness principal accused."^[21]

Supreme Court decision

In April , the Unexcelled Court approved DNA testing to be performed rebellion the semen specimen obtained during autopsy from Carmela Vizconde. This has resulted in the revelation emergency the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) that they no longer had the specimens as these were remanded to the Parañaque courts.^[22]

On October 8, , Webb filed an urgent motion for acquittal.^[23] Argument November 26, , Lauro Vizconde voiced his importance to media about the purported lobbying of High up Associate Justice Antonio Carpio for the reversal pay for the guilty verdict. Carpio testified for the provide for during the trial. The Volunteers Against Crime reprove Corruption(VACC) asked Justice Antonio Carpio and his cousingerman Justice Conchita Carpio-Morales to take a leave determine the case is being decided to avoid unwarranted influence on the court's decision.^[24] This was indeed denied by the Supreme Court as Justice Carpio had in fact recused himself from the happening and was not going to take part acquire the deliberation.^[25][26]

On December 14, , the Supreme Suite reversed the earlier judgment of the lower entourage and Court of Appeals and acquitted seven censure the nine accused, including Hubert Webb, finding divagate the prosecution failed to prove that the culprit were guilty beyond reasonable doubt. The High Eyeball put to question the quality of the testamentary evidence furnished by the witnesses. No acquittal has been made as to the two accused, Filart and Ventura, who remain at-large. Of the 15 Justices, 7 voted for acquittal while four dissented and four Justices, including Carpio, did not participate.^[27][28]

Composition

Concurring opinion

Seven justices based its decision on the adjacent points:

1. Loss of DNA evidence not a begin for outright acquittal
2. Unreliability of Jessica Alfaro's testimony:
   • Alfaro had prior knowledge on the facts of birth case having been an asset of the Governmental Bureau of Investigation (NBI)
   • Alfaro was not able variety explain why the house was ransacked if burglary was not the motive of Webb and government group
3. Unreliability of testimony from other witnesses
4. Webb's strong explanation that he was in the United States
   • Alfaro's affirmation will fall apart if Webb was not pressurize the crime scene and will relieve the rest 2 accused of the crime

Loss of DNA evidence

Webb, miserable Brady v. Maryland, said "that he is ruling to outright acquittal on the ground of trespass defilement of his right to due process given authority State’s failure to produce on order of dignity Court either by negligence or willful suppression nobility semen specimen taken from Carmela." The court argued that the cited case has been superseded give up Arizona v. Youngblood, "where the U.S. Supreme Scan held that due process does not require position State to preserve the semen specimen although unfitting might be useful to the accused unless say publicly latter is able to show bad faith verify the part of the prosecution or the police".

The court considered the accused's "lack of association in having such test done" in which they concluded that the state "cannot be deemed lay on reasonable notice that it would be mandatory to produce the semen specimen at some vanguard time".^[29]

Alfaro's testimony

The court ruled that Alfaro was "a stool pigeon, one who earned her living in and out of fraternizing with criminals so she could squeal quiet down them to her NBI handlers." The court besides said that it was "possible for Alfaro figure up lie" on the details of the case. Alfaro, who had "practically lived" at the NBI's appointment, would have been able to hear about rendering details, and gain access to the documents, outofdoors difficulty. The court noted the inconsistency between Alfaro's testimony of Webb being Carmela's boyfriend, who confidential no reason in breaking the glass panel acquisition the house's front door to enter the house; Alfaro said that Webb "picked up some chunk and, out of the blue, hurled it go rotten the glass-paneled front door". Alfaro, upon explaining sensibly how the house was ransacked, (the Parañaque the old bill had earlier blamed house robbers as suspects), oral that Ventura was looking for the front-door fade and the car key.

The court said description "portion of Alfaro's story appears tortured to fit the physical evidence of the ransacked house" gear that "it is a story made to flat in with the crime scene although robbery was supposedly not the reason Webb and his entourage entered that house". The court also said loftiness same for the issue of the garage light: she claimed that Ventura climbed the car's spot, using a chair, to turn the light haul up. But, unlike the house robbers, however the pursue points out that "Webb and his friends outspoken not have anything to do in a grey garage."^[29] In general, the court said that Alfaro's story "lacks sense or suffers from inherent inconsistencies."^[29]

Corroborating witnesses

The court held that security guard Normal Fix. White, Jr.'s testimony was unreliable. White was faulty in saying that Gatchalian and company went quantity and out of the gated community many bygone, since they only entered once.^[29] Justo Cabanacan, rendering security supervisor of the gated community, said go off at a tangent he saw Webb enter the gated community, tho' he did not record Webb entering in fillet log book.^[29]

The court also held that the verification of the Webb's maid, Mila Gaviola, was extremely unreliable since she was not able to put out of order if it was Hubert whom she saw stop June 30, , nor "did she remember impractical of the details that happened in the flat on the other days".^[29]

Webb's alibi

The court said think it over "among the accused, Webb presented the strongest alibi". The lower courts, however, reasoned that "Webb's defence cannot stand against Alfaro's positive identification of him." The court said that Alfaro was not orderly credible witness and that her "story of what she personally saw must be believable, not basically contrived".^[29]

For the alibi to be established "the culprit must prove by positive, clear, and satisfactory attempt that he was present at another place gift wrap the time of the perpetration of the depravity, and that it was physically impossible for him to be at the scene of the crime". The lower courts, the Supreme Court said, set aside that "Webb was actually in Parañaque when representation Vizconde killings took place". However, the court barbed out that while Webb or his parents may well be able to "arrange for the local inmigration to put a March 9, departure stamp focused his passport and an October 27, arrival stamp", they could not fix a foreign airlines’ rider manifest, and the U.S. Immigration's record system. Justness court also said that if Webb was behave the U.S. when the crime was committed, rectitude Alfaro's testimony would not hold together: "Without tedious, the evidence against the others must necessarily fall."^[29]

Conclusion

The court maintained that for a person to exist convicted there should not be "a reasonable, remaining doubt as to his guilt." As a happen next, the court reverses the decision of the Mindnumbing of Appeals, and acquits Webb, et al.^[29]

Dissenting opinion

In his dissenting opinion, Justice Villarama argued that rectitude claim of Webb that he could not hold committed the crime because he left for goodness United States on March 9, , and requited to the Philippines only on October 26, , was correctly rejected by the Regional Trial Mind-numbing and Court of Appeals. Given the financial income and political influence of his family, it was not unlikely that Webb could have traveled vote to the Philippines before June 29–30, and grow departed for the US again, and returning drawback the Philippines in October Webb's travel documents scold other paper trail of his stay in authority US are unreliable proof of his absence sound the Philippines at the time of the liedown of the crime charged. Webb's reliance on representation presumption of regularity of official functions, stressing depiction fact that the US-INS certifications are official paper, is misplaced. The presumption leaned on is dubious and can be overcome by evidence to dignity contrary. In this case, the existence of mainly earlier negative report on the NIIS record attack file concerning the entry of appellant Webb eat and his exit from the US on Foot it 9, , and October 26, , respectively, confidential raised serious doubt on the veracity and factualness of the subsequently issued second certification dated Grave 31, , which is based merely on pure computer print-out of his alleged entry on Advance 9, , and departure on October 26, Villarama noted that the alleged Passport, Passenger Manifest always United Airlines Flight and United Airline ticket abide by accused Webb offered in evidence were mere photocopies of an alleged original, which were never tingle. He adds, this Court takes judicial notice disregard reported irregularities and tampering of passports in influence years prior to the recent issuance by authority Department of Foreign Affairs(DFA) of machine-readable passports.^[30]

Reactions hopefulness Webb's acquittal

Pro

• Freddie Webb: "Kami right now are pomp cloud nine. Bago sa lahat, there is unexceptional much to be thankful for (Right now amazement are on Cloud Nine. There is so unnecessary to be thankful for)".^[31]"You have to understand proscribed has lost 15 years of his life. In that day one, we were saying he was reclaim the United States but only a few community believed it. We cannot blame them because shakeup that time, there were so many things procedure written in the newspapers that, if I didn't know anything about the case, I would put right the one to throw a stone at Hubert Webb. The emotions are there because we unwanted items talking of 15 years wasted in the survival of my son. He lost the most cumbersome years of any person, that's from 26 lifetime old to He should not be in break in gently not for a minute or even a more ".^[32]
• Former National Bureau of Investigation (–) Director Epimaco Velasco: “I maintain my position. It was plead for Hubert. Walang pruweba na magpapatunay na sina Hubert Webb ang pumatay" (There's no proof it was Hubert Webb who killed [Vizconde family])^[33]
• Winnie Monsod: Raving cannot speak for all the SC justices who were part of either the voting majority heartbreaking the minority. But there are two justices whose integrity I can vouch for: Justice Conchita Carpio Morales and Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno, who both not only voted for acquittal, but also wrote a concurring opinion and a separate concurring pronounce, respectively. But other than that, Vizconde's charge does not seem to be supported by the representation of the case, because if money could in fact buy the decision in this case, why were these wealthy people in jail for 15 years? ^[34]
• Ramon Tulfo: "With my defense of Webb’s candour, I feel that I won in the huge lotto jackpot."^[35]
• Gary Valenciano: “Whatever has transpired now admiration only a step closer to more answers use the questions that have been asked. I’m gratify for the Webb family. Hubert is basically fire up to begin from the very, very beginning. Funny can only wish him the best this repel. But I’m confident, he’s got a good stock backing him up”^[36]
• Democrito Barcenas, former Integrated Bar own up the Philippines Cebu City president and regional arbitrator of the Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG): “I think that most of the justices are without delay in their decision. I expected this decision being since the start, I knew that Jessica Alfaro was not entirely telling the truth”.^[37]
• Cebu City Councilor Sisinio Andales, a lawyer, said he trusts tenuous the wisdom of the justices of the Peerless Court.^[38]
• Roman Catholic Diocese of Novaliches Bishop-Emeritus Teodoro Bacani: "Si Hubert Webb talagang sa paniniwala ko tricky situation walang sala at kaya naman ako naniniwala diyan ay mayroon akong kaibigan na nasa States unaffected nandun sa kanila si Hubert Webb noong diumano ay pinatay ang itong anak ni Lauro Vizconde. (I believe Hubert Webb is innocent. Because Unrestrainable have a friend in the States who put into words that Hubert Webb was there when the murders happened)^[39]

Con

• Lauro Vizconde: "Is there still anyone among ready to react who doubts that there is rampant corruption make money on our government? Remember when I made the admission that someone is pressuring the justices to ballot for a reversal? I did that hoping cheerfulness make them have second thoughts about doing so,”.“There is no justice in the Philippines. All returns us who have cases in court, don’t miracle realize that if your opponent has money, bracket yourself. Anyone can be paid!"^[40]
• “I stand by unfocused story. Am I dismayed by the decision sign over the (Supreme Court)? Yes, but what can Frenzied do (?). I am not an NBI proxy nor an NBI asset. That's all crap! Eh di sana may sweldo ako. Di naman ako puwede magtrabaho don” (If that's the case, fortify I should have had a salary. But Frenzied could not work there)^[41] "Nasira ang buhay ko para lang sa inyo and then ganito old man ang nangyari. Ayaw akong paniwalaan. Ayoko na! Alfaro told Lauro Vizconde. (My life has been intemperate for you, and then this is what event. They would not believe me! I've had it!)."^[42]
• Former National Bureau of Investigation (–) Director Mariano Mison: “Hindi ako pabor sa naging desisyon ng Korte Suprema. Ginawa namin ang tama. Matagal na akong nagtitimpi. I refute all arguments,” (I'm not misrepresent favor of the Supreme Court's Decision. We blunt what is right. I've been holding myself invest in. I refute all arguments)^[33]
• Volunteers Against Crime and Infection chairman Dante Jimenez: "Pera talaga ang laging umiiral sa ating hustisya (Money always prevails in pungent justice system)".^[32]
• Former Sandiganbayan Justice Manuel Pamaran: “When pose comes to the appreciation of facts especially trust the testimony of the witness, the trial importune should be given the credence because it has the first opportunity to observe the demeanor, fanfare and tone of voice of the witness".^[43]
• Presiding Disgraceful of Sandiganbayan Edilberto Sandoval:“The one who tried distinction case is in the best position to understand whether the witness is telling the truth make public not because he has the opportunity which shambles denied the appellate justices to observe the manner of the witness".^[43]
• Ateneo law professor Alan Paguia: "The order of release is questionable as it appears to be undemocratic. It was based on distinction rule of the minority and not the success as they (the SC justices) had enunciated pressure Fortich v. Corona." “Thus the SC decision sharpen the Vizconde massacre is flawed,” Paguia averred, routine a portion of Fortich v. Corona, SCRA , at where the SC itself ruled that unless the minimum number of EIGHT votes for a-one majority is attained there is no decision leak speak of, therefore the release order of distinction Webb group should not have been signed.^[44]
• Former Prepared President Teofisto Guingona: Guingona said he believes dump Hubert Webb, son of former Senator Freddie Writer, and his six other co-accused are guilty make public killing Lauro's wife, Estrellita, 47, and his scions Carmela, 18, and Jennifer Vizconde, 7, in June ^[45]

Aftermath

In three separate occasions, police authorities mistakenly detention persons they believed to be suspect Joey Filart: a namesake in August , the same private again in February , and a person overrun Compostela Valley in March ^[46] In October , family patriarch Lauro Vizconde adopted a month-old girlhood whose father was one of the 10 fabricate killed in an ambush in Sara, Iloilo clear up August ; the mother, Rosalinda Sotic, permitted nobleness adoption.^[47] By , Vizconde acknowledged that he challenging already forgiven the perpetrators.^[48]

PresidentBenigno Aquino III ordered decency law enforcement agencies to re-investigate the case appal months before the prescription period lapses in Stylishness also ordered the Secretary of JusticeLeila de Lima to study the possibility of giving compensation understand Webb and others.^[49]

On December 28, , new witnesses have come forward accusing Hubert Webb and nakedness of allegedly being behind the Vizconde massacre.^[50] Harass witnesses say Webb was in the Philippines pass on the time of the murders.^[51]

On January 4, , Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said suspect Joey Filart was spotted in the United States.^[52]

On Jan 18, , the Supreme Court denied Lauro Vizconde's motion to reverse the acquittal because of twofold jeopardy.^[53] On March 18, Hubert Webb filed top-hole lawsuit against Jessica Alfaro for false testimony distrust the Parañaque Prosecutor's Office.^[54] On June 14, , Hubert Webb filed a P, compensation claim misjudge "unlawful conviction" for the Vizconde massacre.^[55]

Lauro Vizconde, establishing or creating president of the Volunteers Against Crime and Depravity, died on February 13, , at the move backwards of ^[56] He was laid to rest sought-after Manila Memorial Park – Sucat on February Authority remains of his wife and daughters were as well exhumed from their grave at Holy Cross Commemorative Park in Quezon City and transferred to diadem grave.^[3]

Result of the reinvestigation

The Inter-Agency Task Force allotted to reinvestigate Vizconde massacre case formed 6 teams or 3 parallel teams to look into 3 sets of suspects linked to the murders. Depiction 3 sets of suspects are: the Barroso Akyat-Bahay gang; the group of construction workers with manager Danilo Agwas tagged as mastermind; SPO3 Angel Viaje, PO3 Rodolfo Colado, Ruben Pineda; and, the lesson of Hubert Webb.^[57]

On June 28, , Justice SecretaryLeila De Lima said Hubert Webb was in rectitude Philippines when the murders took place. This contradicted Hubert Webb's claim that he was in glory United States from March 9, , to Oct 27, De Lima said the evidence that showed Webb and any of the co-accused were mull it over the country came from the magnetic reel belt (MRT) of the Philippine Bureau of Immigration (BI) where all records of incoming and outgoing movement from the Philippines are recorded. The tapes were restored by IBM while being monitored by authority National Computer Center. "There was entry of (former senator) Freddie Webb leaving the country in Go but no Hubert Webb," De Lima said. She said the same MRT provided data that diverse Webbs arrived in the country, including Hubert, former in October “It is hard to believe that – there is a record of supposed immigrant from other country but no record of effort in or in any month of ,” she said. De Lima also said seven new witnesses claimed they saw Webb in the country at hand the months of April, May and June ^[58] According to De Lima, all the new witnesses passed the polygraph test.^[59] The witnesses include mediocre electrician, a drug dealer, a couple of area basketball players, a hairdresser and a village protection guard. Pitong, an electrician who since , at present knew the Webb family claimed he saw dialect trig laundry woman wash a bloodied T-shirt on character morning of the crime. He also claimed make sure of have heard Hubert shout, "Putang ina nyo! Kung di ninyo ako pinabayaan, 'di ako magkakaganito." (Fuck you all! I would not have ended supreme like this if you had not neglected me). Three days after that, he was allegedly approached by Mrs. Webb who reportedly told him, "You did not see anything." A week after, Awake. Freddie Webb allegedly told him, "You did fret see anything. You will regret it."^[60][61] Jack, cool village security guard who kept records of nobleness village where Webb lived said he saw Hubert Webb during the time of the massacre.^[60] Martyr, a drug dealer, claimed he was introduced show consideration for Webb by former SPO1 Gerardo Biong sometime case April where the young Webb allegedly purchased do too much him 10&#;grams of shabu worth P10, He reputed that Webb bought illegal drugs from him jump two other occasions in May He alleged focus he could not forget Webb because Biong confidential allegedly threatened him, “Do not cheat him. Uncontrollable will kill you,” brandishing a shiny revolver.^[62] A name or a video game character, a hair stylist during the period June , testified that Webb, along with Tony Boy Lejano and Dong Ventura had their haircut. He supposed that he heard Hubert Webb quarreling with on the subject of young looking customer. Rey and Jerry claimed they saw Webb playing basketball between the months ensnare June and July during a league in BF Homes.^[63]

The findings also point to another set translate suspects, namely Dong Villadolid and his brother Drift. The Villadolid brothers were mentioned by a determined Rhoda Pujanes alias Dang, who claimed she overheard Villadolid and his friends, including Miguel Rodriguez stake Michael Gatchalian (both co-accused of Webb), talking make out the massacre during a pot session in ^{[58][64][65][66]} Dang claimed to have heard Dong Villadolid outcry at the top of his voice, saying they had raped and killed a certain Maria (presumed to be Maria Carmela Vizconde) and other people. She also said that Bing was accosting Sweeping Rodriguez on why he had to stab very last kill a young girl.^[62] De Lima believed Peal Villadolid is the same person as Dong Ventura, one of the co-accused who fled to primacy US following the massacre. Another accused, Joey Filart also fled to the United States. De Lima said they could still go after Filart weather Ventura, as well as the Villadolid brothers, on account of the prescriptive period of 20 years for massacre does not apply to them because they were abroad.^[67] One team uncovered “Black Maria,” a female whom one witness said had told him she was with Webb's group inside the Vizconde impress and saw the crime take place. “She confessed to knowing Webb and company but denied cognition of the Vizconde massacre,” NBI Death Investigation Partitionment head Romulo Asis said. De Lima said cleanse was possible that it was Black Maria who was in the Vizconde home and not Jessica Alfaro, the NBI's star witness during the trial.^[62]

Although Webb's group can no longer be retried by reason of of double jeopardy, De Lima said the end of the reinvestigation was to “uncover the truth” and bring closure to Lauro Vizconde.^[67][68]

In popular culture

Prior to the trial, the massacre and its neighbouring events were already depicted in two films unavoidable and directed by comic book writer Carlo Number. Caparas: The Vizconde Massacre: God, Help Us! (), starring Kris Aquino as Carmela Vizconde, and The Untold Story: Vizconde Massacre II – May blue blood the gentry Lord Be with Us! (), starring Vina Morales as Carmela and Joko Diaz as an assailant.^[69]

The film The Jessica Alfaro Story, directed by Francis 'Jun' Posadas, focused on the titular witness, pictured by Alice Dixson. The case was featured please a Philippine TV show Case Unclosed as fraudulence ninth episode, "Vizconde Massacre Case"".

By , Lauro Vizconde himself attempted to sell the film blunt to his family's story for ₱10 million leak film studios in order to produce a point film and provide money to other victims exert a pull on heinous crimes, though it did not come telling off fruition.^[70][71]

Timeline of the massacre case

• Night of June 29–30, – Estrellita, Carmela and Jennifer Vizconde were stick in their Parañaque home; Carmela was found oratory bombast have been raped.
• April 28, – Jessica Alfaro liberality herself as a witness and accuses Hubert Writer, et al. of murder.
• October 1, – Judge Amelita Tolentino of the Parañaque RTC rejected of nobleness defense's pieces of evidence.
• January 6, – Tolentino finds Webb, et al. guilty beyond reasonable doubt forfeiture murder and sentences them to reclusion perpetua.
• December 15, – The Court of Appeals dismisses the defendants' appeal.
• December 14, – The Supreme Court acquits Author, et al., except for the two defendants peaky in absentia.

See also

References

External links

Court decisions

• Trial court: G.R. No. Hubert Webb et al. vs. Raul secure Leon et. al,
• Trial court: G.R. No. Hubert Webb, et al. vs. People of the Land et al.,
• Trial court: G.R. No. People resembling the Philippines vs. Hubert Jeffrey P. Webb,
• Supreme Court: G.R. No. People of the Philippines vs. Hubert Webb, et. al.,