188: Vizconde won’t reveal source on lobbying at SC

abs-cbnNEWS.com

MANILA, Philippines - Lauro Vizconde won’t reveal who their source was in connection with allegations that a senior magistrate masterminded the acquittal of Hubert Webb and 6 others for the massacre of his family in 1991.

In a reply to an order by the Supreme Court, Vizconde said he “has come to the belief that it would not be proper at this time to break the seal of confidentiality under which the information regarding Mr. Justice [Antonio] Carpio was given to him by those concerned.”

Vizconde, through lawyer Ferdinand Topacio, earlier claimed there are 3 judiciary members who are privy to Carpio’s supposed efforts to convince fellow magistrates to vote for Webb.

He had said the 3 do not want to come out in the open because their testimonies might affect the people’s trust in the judiciary.

Vizconde said he and Topacio did not mean to discredit the SC by making a statement about it.
“He also takes this opportunity to state that while he strongly disagrees with the findings of the supposed majority of the court…he nevertheless desires to attain closure as far as the judicial aspect of the case is concerned,” the reply states.

In a 7-4-4 decision last month, the high court set free Webb, the son of a former senator, and other scions of influential families due to the inconsistencies in the testimony of the star witness, Jessica Alfaro. A subsequent motion for reconsideration was also junked.

Vizconde said this would leave him free to concentrate on campaigning for “reforms in the criminal justice system within the larger context of the entire socio-political system of the country.”

This includes running after Carpio through an impeachment case before the House of Representatives for “betrayal of public trust and graft and corruption.”

He said they have already found support from several lawmakers.

Both Vizconde and Topacio, meanwhile, “reiterate their utmost respect and supports for the institution of the SC, their full faith in the integrity and leadership of Mr. Chief Justice Renato Corona…”

185: Vizconde refuses to name source of Carpio’s alleged lobbying for Webb acquittal

Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines—Lauro Vizconde and his lawyer on Monday said they were ready to be sanctioned by the Supreme Court for refusing to name the justice they claimed told them of the alleged lobbying of Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio among his colleagues to acquit Hubert Webb and his companions in the Vizconde massacre.

"We are throwing ourselves at the mercy of the Supreme Court. If we will be jailed, so be it," Ferdinand Topacio, Vizconde's counsel, said in a press conference in Manila.

Topacio said Vizconde did not want to compromise his source, a Supreme Court justice, as this person was "sincere" and acted in good faith when this person tipped them off on Carpio's alleged influence-peddling among his colleagues.

"Nagmamalasakit na nga, ipapahamak mo pa (The source was being kind, we cannot desert him/her)," Topacio said.

Vizconde said he has not spoken to his source since September last year.

Topacio and Vizconde are set to file their reply to a Supreme Court directive ordering them to name their source.

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.''

175: Vizconde to name witnesses vs SC justice

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.

171: News: Task force challenges Webb to take lie-detector test

MANILA, Philippines - The multi agency task force reinvestigating the Vizconde massacre case on Friday threw a challenge to Hubert Webb and 5 others acquitted by the Supreme Court of involvement in the gruesome massacre to subject themselves to a polygraph test to prove their innocence.

"Even if the results of the reinvestigation would show or would confirm that they are the real culprits, because of the rule on double jeopardy, 'di na naman sila makakasuhan. So if they're one with us in determining the truth and finding full and total closure to this case, we challenge them to cooperate by submitting to a polygraph test," Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said during an ambush interview with reporters after the task force's meeting at the National Bureau of Investigation Friday afternoon.

161: News: Lauro Vizconde firm in belief Webb massacred his family

abs-cbnNews.com



MANILA, Philippines - The camp of Lauro Vizconde believes there is enough time left to appeal his case before the Supreme Court (SC) before the 10-year prescriptive period ends in June 2011.

"I think we have enough time. After all they've submitted the motion for reconsideration. We'll have to wait what will be SC's action on this motion," Vizconde said on ANC's "The Rundown" on Wednesday.

Vizconde issued the statement as he, together with chief of the Public Attorney’s Office, Atty. Persida Rueda-Acosta, filed a motion for reconsideration on the high court's December 14 ruling on the Vizconde massacre case.

160: Vizconde appeals Webb acquittal

Philippine Star



MANILA, Philippines - The patriarch of the murdered Vizconde family asked the Supreme Court (SC) yesterday to set aside the acquittal of Hubert Webb and five others convicted of the 1991 rape of his 18-year-old daughter, and the killing of his wife and 9-year-old daughter.

Represented by Chief Public Attorney Persida Rueda-Acosta and other lawyers from the Public Attorney’s Office, Lauro Vizconde told the SC that in 1986 it granted the second motion for reconsideration of the wife of Rolando Galman, the military-tagged assassin of Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr., for the retrial of the soldiers acquitted of the Aquino-Galman murders.

159: News: Vizconde not giving up seeks reversal of ruling on Webb acquittal

abs-cbnNEWS.com

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) - Lauro Vizconde shrugged off the double jeopardy principle, as he asked the Supreme Court to reverse a decision acquitting Hubert Webb et al in the Vizconde massacre case.

The high court was also asked to thresh out the testimonies of new witnesses through oral arguments on January 25.

Through lawyer Persida Rueda-Acosta, who is also chief of the Public Attorney’s Office, Vizconde filed on Wednesday a motion for reconsideration on the December 14 ruling of the high court.

158: News: Vizconde asks SC to reconsider acquittal of Webb, 6 others

MANILA, Philippines -- Lauro Vizconde on Wednesday asked the Supreme Court to reconsider its decision acquitting Hubert Webb and six others in connection with the grisly death of Estrelita, Carmela and Jennifer in the early 90s.

In its 84-page motion for reconsideration, Vizconde, through Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) Chief Persida Rueda-Acosta, urged the high court to recall and resubmit for re-deliberation the case and reverse its December 14 decision acquitting Webb, Antonio Lejano, Michael Gatchalian, Hospicio Fernandez, Miguel Rodriguez, Peter Estrada, and Gerardo Biong.

Acosta said the high court departed from its long line of decisions where it always pointed out that “in a criminal case, factual findings of the trial court are generally accorded great weight and respect on appeal especially when such findings are supported by substantial evidence on record.”

She said that while the high court acknowledged that star witness Jessica Alfaro can lie “with such abundant details some of which even tallied with the physical evidence at the scene of the crime,” it did not say that Alfaro actually lied and failed to specify the alleged lies she told in court.

source

155: News:Vizconde to present new witnesses

Journal Online

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.

154: News: New Vizconde massacre witnesses surface

ABS-CBN News

MANILA, Philippines – New witnesses have come forward accusing Hubert Webb and others of allegedly being behind the Vizconde massacre, Public Attorney’s Office chief Percida Acosta said on Tuesday.

She has informed Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Leila de Lima through texts and phone calls that the new witnesses are requesting to be entered into the government’s Witness Protection Program.

National Bureau of Investigation and Philippine National Police teams formed to look into the 3 sets of suspects in the killings will submit their first report early next month.

145: News: SC mouthpiece to Webbs: Just doing my job

Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines—Supreme Court spokesperson Jose Midas Marquez said he was standing his ground.
The family of recently released Hubert Webb was free to criticize him for saying that the high court’s decision acquitting Webb and his fellow accused in the Vizconde massacre did not mean that they were innocent of the crime, said Marquez.

“I stand my ground. If they feel that way, then they’re free to feel that way. I’ve been spokesman for the longest time and I am just doing my job,” Marquez said in a press conference sought by reporters who wanted to get his side after the Webb family’s statement appeared online.

144: News: Webb family criticizes SC spokesman

1

abs-cbnNEWS.com

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) - The Webb family has criticized Supreme Court spokesman Jose Midas Marquez for allegedly expressing a “personal opinion” on the acquittal of the respondents in the Vizconde massacre case.

“We deplore the latest statement of the SC spokesperson, Atty. Midas Marquez, that ‘the acquittal of Webb, et al did not mean they were innocent of the charges,’” the Webb family said in a statement released to the media.

141: News: Supreme Court acquits Webb, et al

By Thea Alberto
Yahoo! Southeast Asia

The Supreme Court has acquitted the convicted murderers in the controversial decade-old Vizconde massacre case, reversing an earlier local court decision sentencing those accused of life imprisonment.

“The court has acquitted Hubert Webb, Antonio Lejano, Michael Gatchalian, Pyke Fernandez, Miguel Rodriguez, Peter Estrada and Gerardo Biong,” Supreme Court spokesman Midas Marquez told a press conference.

140: Hubert is Acquitted!

 

FROM ANC: BREAKING NEWS: Source says SC has acquitted Webb, et al in Vizconde massacre case; Justices voted 7-4-4 in favor of acquittal

139: News: Vizconde, Webb families await Supreme Court ruling

MANILA, Philippines – Fifteen years and 6 months.

The mother of Hubert Webb, Elizabeth, clearly remembers how long her son has been in jail after he was convicted by a lower court for his supposed participation in the Vizconde massacre.

135: News: Fritz Webb: Nowhere for SC to go but to find Hubert innocent

MANILA, Philippines - After years of waiting for a ruling on the Vizconde massacre case, the family of Hubert Webb hopes to finally get justice.

It is only a matter of time before the Supreme Court hands down a final verdict on the case.

Speaking on ANC's "Headstart" on Thursday, Fritz Webb, older brother of Hubert Webb, says all things being equal, they are confident the court will rule in favor of Hubert Webb.

133: FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS "THE HUBERT WEBB CASE"

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS "THE HUBERT WEBB CASE"
 by Nikki Luna
 FAQS 

The paramount purpose of a trial is to make sure that convictions are made fairly and accurately. Court decisions should be made SOLELY on verified facts and sound testimony.
In law, there is absolutely no room for speculation.

here are the answers to the most frequently asked questions. These show that Hubert’s innocence cannot be disputed.

132: Vizconde massacre star witness is 'fake' - former NBI agent

Peke ang star witness na si Jessica Alfaro— ito ang iginiit ng dating close-in security niya mula sa NBI. Gayunpaman, pinanindigan ng padre de pamilya ng mga biktima sa Vizconde Massacre na si Lauro Vizconde ang naging testimoniya ni Alfaro sa korte. Magba-Bandila si Ces Drilon. Bandila, Disyembre 7, 2010.

see the video here: Clicky

Thanks Glee for dropping the link!
source

129: News: Star witness gives Vizconde hope from hiding

By Miko L. Morelos, Cathy C. Yamsuan
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 03:33:00 12/05/2010

MANILA, Philippines—The star witness in the Vizconde massacre has offered words of encouragement to the family’s patriarch who has expressed apprehension that the life sentences of the accused might be overturned by the Supreme Court.

In a text message sent through Lauro Vizconde’s lawyer, Jessica Alfaro insisted on the strength of the case against Hubert Webb, the primary accused, and six others in the murders of Estrellita, Carmela and Jennifer Vizconde on June 30, 1991.