I think I was only in 5th grade when I first heard about the Vizconde Massacre. When you're that young, sympathy always goes to the one who looks "kawawa"/oppressed while anger goes to suspect who's rich, and with a dad who's powerful. I never understood things deeply, all I knew was that there's this credible Jessica Alfaro (being impersonated by comedians by wearing huge sunglasses), the poor poor Mr. Vizconde whose family was killed, and the bad bad guy Hubert Webb. Why wouldn't you think that way, there was even the movie, The Vizconde Massacre! (which later on popularized massacre movies that era, by the way)
15 years later, Hubert Webb was acquitted, with the usual criticisms from the public - "wala nang pag-asa ang hustisya sa Pilipinas!", "Unfair, Webb should be raped and killed as well!", "Anong klaseng hustisya yan, malamang sa susunod, mga Ampatuan naman ang mapapawalang sala!", "sana bulabugin ng konsensya ang mga judge sa kanilang pagtulog!" etc etc. But gone is the thinking of a 12-year old girl. Here goes MY opinions:
Firstly, it could be wrong all along that we all believed in a one and only witness, Jessica Alfaro - who testified 4 long years after the crime, who had inconsistencies in testimonies, and who has a history of drug addiction. Secondly, Webb's evidence that it was physically impossible for him to be at the scene of the crime could be genuine, especially with his passport stamps and certifications from the US (see, we somewhat questioned the credibility of those in the US Department of State [or Department of Justice, whatever] with just one unreliable Jessica Alfaro?!). Thirdly, plainly, evidences and testimonies from other witnesses (village guards, laundry lady, etc) are not strong enough to put a man in prison for 15 years.
Lastly, I agree that Justice in this country is indeed slow. BUT hey, I still believe in the professionalism and credibility of our Judges.
So... As much as I pity Mr. Vizconde for not getting justice up till now, I also pity Hubert Webb for spending years in prison, when he could've spent those years building his own family, right? But all's done. May Mr. Vizconde still get that justice in the remaining years of his life, and may the Webbs cope for the years lost.
5 comments:
"May Mr. Vizconde still get that justice in the remaining years of his life" -- I learned this morning that a case will be closed after 20 years from the date of the crime... meaning, pag wala pang nasampahan ng kaso by mid-year next year, wala ng pag-asang mabigyan ng justice si Mr. Vizconde... case closed :-(
Meanwhile, kung innocent talaga si Hubert, kawawa nga talaga sya (as well as his accomplices). Imagine, they took away 15 years of his life!
Life do really sucks sometimes, eh?
"that a case will be closed after 20 years from the date of the crime" -- talaga?? poor lauro vizconde! :(
yeah... so kung may bagong suspects sila... dapat masampahan nila ng kaso before june 2011... i'm not sure kung ano yung exact date :-s
Grabe, nung nalaman ko na na-acquit si Hubert Webb, at first nagalit ako pero nung nalaman ko yung evidences nya (stamped passport, official letter from the USCIS) saka nung tinanggihan nung Judge Tolentino yung DNA testing, naisip ko na victim din si Webb sa case na 'to. Nasayang yung 15 years nya all because the public believed Jessica Alfaro. Nung na-acquit na sila Webb, nagtago na daw si Alfaro. Dapat makasuhan yun.
Nakakainis pa na nawala daw ng NBI yung vaginal smear sample from Carmela Vizconde. Yung naitago yun, at na-compare sa DNA sample ni Webb, dun lang talaga natin malalaman kung innocent talaga si Webb.
@bianx - yeah the vaginal smear sample could've told everything, pero yun yung nakakapagtaka, bakit nawawala? which is really odd, e NBI na may hawak non. so that makes u think, there really is something fishy sa pagkaka bintang kay webb right?
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