179: Vizconde vows to reveal all in affidavit to Supreme Court

 Philippine Daily Inquirer


MANILA, Philippines—Lauro Vizconde held back in naming the three justices who allegedly informed him about Senior Associate Justice Carpio's attempt to influence other justices to acquit Hubert Webb and five others of the 1991 murders of Vizconde’s wife, Estrellita and his daughters, Carmela and Jennifer.

"I will name them in my affidavit in compliance with the Supreme Court order as soon we receive the documents, bayaan mo munang magturuan sila (let them point fingers at each other first),'' Vizconde said in a press conference in Quezon City on Wednesday.

When pressed to describe the occasion where he got the information, Vizconde said he was told about Carpio’s interest in the case when he made a "courtesy call" in the office of a Supreme Court justice.
In the same press conference, he also accused Justice Jose Abad of "conflict of interest.''


Abad, who was the "ponente'' of the decision to acquit Webb and company, has a relative working as a lawyer of Carpio's former law firm, according to Vizconde.

"He should have known better and inhibited from the case due to conflict of interest,'' he said.
Vizconde said he had given up hope about getting justice for the deaths of his wife and two daughters, after the Supreme Court denied his motion for reconsideration to reverse the acquittals.

"I have lost hope that I will get justice for the death of my family, but I will not stop in fighting for the justice system, sa kalye na lang ang labanan (the fight will be in the streets), and join the people's justice movement,'' Vizonde said.

"I will continue the fight, not only for my family but also for other victims of injustice,'' he said.
In the same forum, he also said the Webb family has sent emissaries in an effort to meet with him.
"I turned them down because I do not like to be accused of maligning them,'' he explained.

Lawyer Ferdinand Topacio, who was present in the same press conference, said he would abide by the order of the Supreme Court for them to explain their allegations that Justice Carpio had influenced the decisions of the other justices.

"We will submit our sworn affidavit as soon as we receive the order,'' he said.

Dante Jimenez, who was threatened with a contempt citation for saying cuss words against the Supreme Court shortly after the acquittal of Webb and his group, explained he uttered those words out of frustration and anger.

Jimenez expressed his apologies to the Supreme Court and to the public during the press conference