Considered to be one of the sensational crimes our country has ever experienced, the Vizconde massacre will continue to make history on the generations to come. And why not? The accused and now convicted rapists-murderers are members of prominent families in Metro Manila with Hubert Webb as the biggest fish of them all. Time is indeed very fast. I was a young girl when this heinous crime happened. It was the headline in People’s Journal then. There were pictures of Carmela, Jennifer and their mom on the front page. Carmela was very pretty. Jennifer was cute. Their mom looked regal. The family was upper middle class.
For someone as young, beautiful and promising as Carmela, someone as lovable as Jennifer and someone as full of life as Mrs. Vizconde, the nation felt a great loss and mourned with Mr. Lauro Vizconde. The first batch of suspects were members of the notorious Akyat-Bahay Gang. I think even Carmela’s boyfriend was invited for some interrogations.
I cannot exactly remember how Hubert Webb came into the picture and how Jessica Alfaro finally spoke up and became the star witness. All I knew was there were great personalities at that time who testified that Hubert was in the States at the time the crime supposedly happened.
Then there was a face off between Mr. Lauro Vizconde and Mr. Freddie Webb about the massacre issue. Was it in Che Che Lazaro’s show? Ah, correct me if I’m wrong, dear readers! Mr. Lauro despite the pain, managed to keep his cool during the face off. Mr. Freddie appeared sympathetic to Mr. Lauro but was so sure that his son could never be the rapist/murderer. The tale of two fathers from opposite perspectives.
It was the trial of the decade and Erap was the president when Hubert and company were found guilty beyond reasonable doubt. The judge gave more weight to Jessica Alfaro’s statement versus the records presented by Hubert’s camp that proved that he was in the States when the crime happened. We thought that it was just a show; that Erap would let Hubert escape after a month. But it never happened.
To date, Hubert’s camp is requesting to revisit the case. I wonder why the NBI did not safekeep the semen samples when they knew from the start that they need to be extra careful on this since the Vizconde massacre is no ordinary case.
It has been two decades and still there is no real peace of mind……
Update as of December 14, 2010:
SC acquits ex-senator’s son in Vizconde massacre
By Tetch Torres
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 11:34:00 12/14/2010
Filed Under: Crime, Crime and Law and Justice
MANILA, Philippines – (UPDATE 2) The Supreme Court acquitted Hubert Webb and five others for the murders of Estrellita Vizconde, and daughters Carmela and Jennifer, its spokesman said Tuesday.
Webb is the son of former senator Freddie Webb.
“The Supreme Court found inconsistencies in the evidence of the prosecution,” lawyer Midas Marquez said on radio.
He said aside from Webb, Antonio “Tonyboy” Lejano, Michael Gatchalian, Hospicio “Pyke” Fernandez, Peter Estrada and Miguel “Ging” Rodriguez and three others were cleared by the high tribunal.
Update: December 15, 2010
http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2010/december2010/176389.htm
The World of Second Chances 