ABS-CBN News
MANILA, Philippines - The camp of Lauro Vizconde respects the Supreme Court ruling junking their motion for reconsideration on the high court's decision to acquit Hubert Webb and 6 co-accused in the massacre case.
Vizconde, however, insists they have witnesses who can prove that Justice Antonio Carpio had tried to influence other justices to grant Webb and the other accused a favorable decision.
Vizconde and his legal counsel, Atty Ferdinand Topacio, said they will submit their affidavits to the SC, and other evidence which will substantiate their allegation, before the 10-day deadline. But they want to first get a copy of the SC's decision before they start naming names to the media.
Vizconde said some sectors have tried to set up a meeting between him and the Webbs but he declined.
Vizconde also said he received information that SC Justice Roberto Abad, who penned the decision acquitting Webb, et al, has a son-in-law, Atty. Mark Hadrian P. Gamo who is married to Atty. Blesilda Abad Gamo, who is currently with the Carpio, Villaraza, Cruz (CVC) law office.
CVC is the former law office of Justice Carpio. Vizconde said Abad should have inhibited himself in the decision-making because of the relationship/connection with Carpio and his law office.
Dante Jimenez, for his part, apologized for cussing at the Supreme Court but said he doesn't regret having done so. He said the outburst was "out of his anger and frustration over the rotten justice system."
Meanwhile, Hubert Webb welcomes the Supreme Court's decision to junk Vizconde's appeal.
He said he hopes the Department of Justice will no longer include them in its reinvestigation of the Vizconde massacre.
In a related development, SC Court Administrator and Spokesperson Atty. Midas Marquez said it is the first time the court has heard of Vizconde's claim that Justice Abad should have inhibited from the Vizconde massacre as he allegedly has a son-in-law working at the CVC law firm.
"I am not aware of that, inhibition is directed to Justice Carpio and inhibiting oneself is a personal decision of a Justice. The court doesn't see anything improper with that," he said.
Marquez said he prefers to wait until Vizconde submits his reply to the court's order before commenting on statements where the latter said he is ready to name the justices allegedly influenced by Carpio to rule in favor of Webb and 6 others.
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