THE camp of the Vizconde family will present new witnesses in its bid to overturn the Supreme Court ruling acquitting Hubert Webb and six others in the grisly killing.
Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said Persida Acosta, head of the Public Attorney’s Office, told her that several witnesses will be turned over to the Department of Justice for possible inclusion in the Witness Protection Program of the government.
”PAO chief Acosta called me up and informed me that they have new witnesses and that they will be turned over to the WPP,” De Lima said.
She said Acosta and Lauro Vizconde will file a motion for reconsideration today before the Supreme Court.
”Acosta insisted that there are grounds for the filing of an MR,” De lima said.
Under the principle of double jeopardy, the 1987 Constitution expressly prohibits the reopening of a criminal case if the accused was acquitted.
Voting 7-4-4, the High Court acquitted Webb, Antonio Lejano, Michael Gatchalian, Hospicio Fernandez, Miguel Rodriguez, Peter Estrada, and Gerardo Biong after the prosecution failed to prove their guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
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