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Espiya Newstand (Current Events, Classifieds, Events) => Current Events => ---!!--Breaking News---!!!--- => : Erotomania December 31, 2010, 12:17:13 AM

: New Vizconde massacre witnesses surface
: Erotomania December 31, 2010, 12:17:13 AM
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.

read the rest of the news here: http://ph.news.yahoo.com/abs/20101228/tph-new-vizconde-massacre-witnesses-surf-898cf49.html
: Re: New Vizconde massacre witnesses surface
: voyager_ December 31, 2010, 12:44:50 AM
merong isang witness daw ang sabi ay yung video ni hubert webb playing in snow ay kuha sa likod ng PICC...

 ::lmao ::lmao ::lmao ::lmao ::lmao

wtf...... binuang... ::lmao ::lmao
: Re: New Vizconde massacre witnesses surface
: Erotomania December 31, 2010, 12:54:24 AM

pwede siguro yun, bakit hindi??

kung yun ngang man landing in the moon eh kuha lang sa studio para lang palitawin na US ang nauna sa moon...

ewan ko pero bakit ayaw nilang bigyan ng punto yung testimonya ng katulong ng mga webb dati na me nakuha syang labada sa kuwarto ni hubert na puro dugo, asan na yung testimonyang yun at ano rin ang nangyari sa katulong na yun?
: Re: New Vizconde massacre witnesses surface
: page up December 31, 2010, 12:58:13 AM
tama nga siguro si mr vizconde na ginapang yung mga hurado nina webb. makarma sana yung nagbinta ng hustisya!
: Re: New Vizconde massacre witnesses surface
: budotukmol December 31, 2010, 01:20:20 AM
hindi na pwede dobol jeopardy di ba?

kawawa man si lauro vizconde pero sa tingin simpleng kaso lang to na naiputan sa ulo.

bakit di paimbestigahan yung mga kamag anak na nag utos kay biong na sunugin ang mga ibidensya?

: Re: New Vizconde massacre witnesses surface
: jg December 31, 2010, 02:26:18 AM
pwede siguro yun, bakit hindi??

kung yun ngang man landing in the moon eh kuha lang sa studio para lang palitawin na US ang nauna sa moon...


ilang times na na prove na totoo yung moon landing. hanggang ngayon andun parin yung module na ginamit nila sa pag land at takeoff pabalik sa earth. the russians who are the top competitors of the US also monitored the moon landing and they themselves knew it was real.

meron ding lunar marker na iniwan sa moon kung saan pag tinutukan ng laser yun magrereflect back dito sa aatin.

kanya kanya nga lang ng paniniwala, kung naniniwala kang hoax yung moon landing then possible na maniwala ka na, staged lang sa pilipinas yung video evidence ni h. webb. bakit kaya mas pinaniniwalaan pa yung sinabi ni alfaro kesa sa supporting papers produced mismo ng US as proof na nasa US nga si webb nung nangyare yun.

pano nila eexplain yung incident wherein alfaro identified one suspect pinagsasampal pa nya all only to realize afterwards na hindi pala yun yung taong tinutukoy nya. alfaro said she knew that guy at naka party pa nya but still she cant even identify that person in broad daylight. that alone shouldve raised a red flag e. kung ganun na pabago bago sya ng isip at hindi nya maituro yung mga suspects e pagkakatiwalaan pa ba?

one interview of vizconde he said "pinahulaan" nya sa psychic kung sino ang killer. and the psychic said isang anak ng politician daw. dun nagumpisa na si webb na ang tinuturo nila bigla. anak ng sinira nyo buhay nung tao dahil lang sa hula??


lives are at risk here, i do regret that mr vizconde went thru this. sino ba naman natuwa sa nangyare at sana mahuli ang tunay na gumawa.  pero tama bang makulong si webb ng ganung katagal base lang sa sinabi ni alfaro na hindi nga reliable from the get go? nakalabas nga si webb but he will never live a normal life again.

come up with solid evidence proving that webb was indeed the killer then ako mismo tutulong pa sa paghuli sa kanya ulit. but until wala silang evidence na sya nga ang pumatay then find the real killer instead of wasting time trying to convict webb again.



dont tell me na kasi bayad ng mga webb ang US at iba pa pero si alfaro hindi nila kayang bilin?
: Re: New Vizconde massacre witnesses surface
: abusado2 December 31, 2010, 02:40:09 AM
pwede siguro yun, bakit hindi??

kung yun ngang man landing in the moon eh kuha lang sa studio para lang palitawin na US ang nauna sa moon...

ewan ko pero bakit ayaw nilang bigyan ng punto yung testimonya ng katulong ng mga webb dati na me nakuha syang labada sa kuwarto ni hubert na puro dugo, asan na yung testimonyang yun at ano rin ang nangyari sa katulong na yun?



Sir panoorin mo iyong MYTHBUSTER na APOLLO edition.
: Re: New Vizconde massacre witnesses surface
: pinoylude December 31, 2010, 02:51:30 AM
2 issues lang naman mga 'tol:

The Philippine Government can request via court order sa U.S. Embassy kung talagang nandun sya, which nandyan na nga diba? so bakit ayaw nilang tingnan sa ibang angulo?

And I believe that double jeopardy is still in effect in law na hindi pwede mangyari (double jeopardy means that one man cannot be accused of the same charges that he was previously acquitted for after proving NOT guilty)
: Re: New Vizconde massacre witnesses surface
: rv2010 December 31, 2010, 04:07:25 AM
ilang times na na prove na totoo yung moon landing. hanggang ngayon andun parin yung module na ginamit nila sa pag land at takeoff pabalik sa earth. the russians who are the top competitors of the US also monitored the moon landing and they themselves knew it was real.

meron ding lunar marker na iniwan sa moon kung saan pag tinutukan ng laser yun magrereflect back dito sa aatin.

kanya kanya nga lang ng paniniwala, kung naniniwala kang hoax yung moon landing then possible na maniwala ka na, staged lang sa pilipinas yung video evidence ni h. webb. bakit kaya mas pinaniniwalaan pa yung sinabi ni alfaro kesa sa supporting papers produced mismo ng US as proof na nasa US nga si webb nung nangyare yun.

pano nila eexplain yung incident wherein alfaro identified one suspect pinagsasampal pa nya all only to realize afterwards na hindi pala yun yung taong tinutukoy nya. alfaro said she knew that guy at naka party pa nya but still she cant even identify that person in broad daylight. that alone shouldve raised a red flag e. kung ganun na pabago bago sya ng isip at hindi nya maituro yung mga suspects e pagkakatiwalaan pa ba?

one interview of vizconde he said "pinahulaan" nya sa psychic kung sino ang killer. and the psychic said isang anak ng politician daw. dun nagumpisa na si webb na ang tinuturo nila bigla. anak ng sinira nyo buhay nung tao dahil lang sa hula??


lives are at risk here, i do regret that mr vizconde went thru this. sino ba naman natuwa sa nangyare at sana mahuli ang tunay na gumawa.  pero tama bang makulong si webb ng ganung katagal base lang sa sinabi ni alfaro na hindi nga reliable from the get go? nakalabas nga si webb but he will never live a normal life again.

come up with solid evidence proving that webb was indeed the killer then ako mismo tutulong pa sa paghuli sa kanya ulit. but until wala silang evidence na sya nga ang pumatay then find the real killer instead of wasting time trying to convict webb again.



dont tell me na kasi bayad ng mga webb ang US at iba pa pero si alfaro hindi nila kayang bilin?

Agree.. toast::

Sa totoo lang..HINDI TALAGA CREDIBLE SI ALFARO..TALAGANG HOAX SIYA..eh kung totoong witnesss siya..nagpakita sana siya ngayon para suportahan o makiramay man lamang kay Mr. Vizconde...

: Re: New Vizconde massacre witnesses surface
: Pall-Eren-Mnr December 31, 2010, 04:33:22 AM
bakit ngayon lang lumabas ang witness na yan ?!

hay naku talaga
: Re: New Vizconde massacre witnesses surface
: Dairycow December 31, 2010, 04:37:30 AM
bakit ngayon lang lumabas ang witness na yan ?!

hay naku talaga

+1000000000000000000000000!

kung may witness pala eh di sana nilabas na nila bago pa yung mga hatol. bago pa yung 2010. bago pa si jessica alfaro.
: Re: New Vizconde massacre witnesses surface
: FERMIN December 31, 2010, 06:22:38 AM
the question is bakit ngyayon lang nagsilabas yang mga yan,anong klaseng yan?magbago na kayo 2011 na.....
: Re: New Vizconde massacre witnesses surface
: batang espiya December 31, 2010, 06:33:18 AM
2 issues lang naman mga 'tol:

The Philippine Government can request via court order sa U.S. Embassy kung talagang nandun sya, which nandyan na nga diba? so bakit ayaw nilang tingnan sa ibang angulo?

And I believe that double jeopardy is still in effect in law na hindi pwede mangyari (double jeopardy means that one man cannot be accused of the same charges that he was previously acquitted for after proving NOT guilty)

Napanood ko sa Case Unclosed yata yon... ginawa na daw ng NBI yan dati, at nag-provide ng legal documents ang US Immigration na nagpapatunay na nandon nga si Hubert noong time na nangyari yong massacre.  Pero hindi raw tinanggap ng korte dito sa Pilipinas yong mga evidence na yon... hindi ko alam kung bakit hindi tinanggap...

Pero kailangan din natin i-consider na noong early 80's & 90's (sana di na nangyayari ngayon) eh madali lang "doktorin" o dayain ang mga tatak-tatak sa passport dyan sa NAIA... kaya hindi rin tayo makakasiguro kung totoo ngang nandon si Hubert sa US.

for example, noong early 90's meron akong kakilala na immigrant dati sa US (pero US citizen na sya ngayon) na may koneksyon/kakilala sa immigration sa NAIA tapos everytime na uuwi sya eh ibang date ang pinapatatak nya sa passport nya para hindi ma break yong continuity ng 5 years na residence nya sa US... kasi hindi yata sya allowed na mag stay ng more than 6 months ata outside US... kaya pinapalabas nya na 1 o 2 months lang sya nagbabakasyon dito, kahit na lumalampas sya ng 6 months.... eh syempre nong time na yon hindi pa ganon ka advanced ang technology at hindi pa ganon kahigpit sa mga airport... naghigpit lang ng sobra-sobra after September 11 terrorist attacks...


hindi mo rin talaga masasabi na si Hubert nga ang gumawa, kasi don sa interview ni Mr. Vizconde, sinabi nya na sinabi daw ng mga psychics na nakausap nya na yong anak nga raw ng pulitiko ang gumawa.... tapos yong alfaro naman questionable ang credibility...

kaya wala talagang panalo dito sa kaso na to..... May DNA evidence nga... hindi naman na mahanap at hindi alam kung nasaan na.... kawawa naman ang 3 biktima ... lalo na si Mr. Vizconde..... sa mga natitirang araw nya dito sa mundo eh, paghahanap pa rin ng hustisya para sa pamilya nya ang papasanin nya....

kawawa din si hubert at mga kasama nya kung hindi nga sila ang pumatay... nasayang yong ilang taon nong buhay nila sa kulungan....

Mukhang sa impyerno na mapaparusahan ang mga gumawa at sangkot dito.... kung sino man sila.... mga Put@ng In@ nyong lahat.... darating rin ang oras ninyo....


p.s.
- Sana talaga ibalik na ang death penalty... yong tipong bitay in public para di pamarisan.. pero sa isang kundisyon.. dapat mabigat ang mga ebidensya at 100 percent na sure ang korte na guilty ang mga suspects

Death to all murderers, rapists and drug pushers
: Re: New Vizconde massacre witnesses surface
: jg December 31, 2010, 08:43:14 AM
the US government indeed provided papers as evidence supporting webbs claim na nasa US nga sya. our court did not honored the said document cause an alibi(document) should be backed up by a witness or atleast the person who furnished those papers.

eto ang malungkot, the US government forbids US government workers/employees to medle or appear in court for any country. meaning bawal silang makialam! yes they can provide evidence na andun nga sya cause its a valid request but they cannot be invited here in the philippines to appear in court to back up the papers.


the webbs has been requesting for lie detector test to prove his innocence, they even begged the court to honor the DNA results. but our court said that DNA and lie detector is not credible enough. WTF?! mas naniniwala sila sa drug addict na witness na hindi naman maituro yung suspect kesa sa scientific proof liike DNA and lie detector??


eto nalang kung may death penalty pa, papayag ka ba na patayin dahil sa sala na hindi mo ginawa? na ang basehan daw ay isang babaeng addict at mga psychics???
: Re: New Vizconde massacre witnesses surface
: yamatoyukihiro December 31, 2010, 09:08:15 AM
pwede siguro yun, bakit hindi??

kung yun ngang man landing in the moon eh kuha lang sa studio para lang palitawin na US ang nauna sa moon...

ewan ko pero bakit ayaw nilang bigyan ng punto yung testimonya ng katulong ng mga webb dati na me nakuha syang labada sa kuwarto ni hubert na puro dugo, asan na yung testimonyang yun at ano rin ang nangyari sa katulong na yun?

bossing, sa pagkakatanda ko kaya hindi tinanggap yung testimony na yun dahil hindi na nagwowork for the webb family yung maid nung nangyari yung massacre.
: Re: New Vizconde massacre witnesses surface
: talimusaw December 31, 2010, 12:08:42 PM
May kapatid si Hubert na lalaki mas matangkad kesa sa kanya.
: Re: New Vizconde massacre witnesses surface
: budotukmol December 31, 2010, 09:57:35 PM
May kapatid si Hubert na lalaki mas matangkad kesa sa kanya.
si jason?
: Re: New Vizconde massacre witnesses surface
: apdeguzman January 01, 2011, 09:06:21 AM
pwede siguro yun, bakit hindi??

kung yun ngang man landing in the moon eh kuha lang sa studio para lang palitawin na US ang nauna sa moon...

ewan ko pero bakit ayaw nilang bigyan ng punto yung testimonya ng katulong ng mga webb dati na me nakuha syang labada sa kuwarto ni hubert na puro dugo, asan na yung testimonyang yun at ano rin ang nangyari sa katulong na yun?

Sir ang alam ko tinanggap yan sa mababang court as evidence pero kinuwestyon ng supreme court dahil di magktaugma sa sinsabi na kinontak si biong para linisin ang crime scene tapos hindi niya naitapon ang kanyang damit na posibleng maging ebidensya...so parang hindi magkatugma na na naisip mong napalinis ang crime scene tapos isang damit na puro dugo hindi maitapon para hindi maging ebidensya. Yun lang po.
: Re: New Vizconde massacre witnesses surface
: Lebron James January 01, 2011, 09:51:21 AM
kasalanan lahat ito ni noynoy!
: Re: New Vizconde massacre witnesses surface
: pinoylude January 01, 2011, 01:51:36 PM
kasalanan lahat ito ni noynoy!

Ok 'tol, parang unfair naman ata yan. Iba ang PARDON sa ACQUITTED and it doesn't mean na kung nangyari yan sa presidency ni PNOY, sya ang may kasalanan. 
: Re: New Vizconde massacre witnesses surface
: lawrencium February 13, 2016, 01:14:41 PM
buhayin ko lang ito,there were corroborating evidences that further substantiates webb's guilt. una nakita nung katulong ng mga webb na naghuhugas ng damit na puno ng dugo si hubert, may account din yung mga gwardya sa bf homes na nakita nila si webb yung gabing yon hindi lang yung mga gwardya patina rin ibang tao na hindi magkakakilala nagtugma yung mga sinasabi nila na nakita rin nila si webb yung mga araw na yon, plus napatunayan ding nasa pinas sya at wala sa california nung mga panahong yon. kawawa naman si mang lauro sa pagpanaw niya wala paring hustisya sa pamilya nya.
: Re: New Vizconde massacre witnesses surface
: Smokey February 13, 2016, 01:21:47 PM
buhayin ko lang ito,there were corroborating evidences that further substantiates webb's guilt. una nakita nung katulong ng mga webb na naghuhugas ng damit na puno ng dugo si hubert, may account din yung mga gwardya sa bf homes na nakita nila si webb yung gabing yon hindi lang yung mga gwardya patina rin ibang tao na hindi magkakakilala nagtugma yung mga sinasabi nila na nakita rin nila si webb yung mga araw na yon, plus napatunayan ding nasa pinas sya at wala sa california nung mga panahong yon. kawawa naman si mang lauro sa pagpanaw niya wala paring hustisya sa pamilya nya.

panuorin mo yung mga documentary ng vizconde massacre sa youtube. matibay ang ebidensya na nasa US si webb. US secretary of state na at FBI ang nag confirm na andun siya. Sino mas papaniwalaan mo? katulong at gwardya o ang FBI? maraming ebidensiya binigay ang pamilya ni webb sa korte pero binasura lahat ito pati ang DNA taste na sila webb mismo nagtutulak gawin ay ayaw pumayag ng korte.

nung una tingin ko din kay webb guilty pero sa kaka research mukhang malabo talaga na siya ang pumatay.
: Re: New Vizconde massacre witnesses surface
: bleep February 13, 2016, 02:49:01 PM
yung chismis dati, isa sa mga kapatid ang gumawa. but because of a promising career, and because hubert was in the usa, hubert yung ginawa scapegoat. lusot na dapat sa kaso. they didnt think he would land in jail.

kawawa si mr vizconde, he didnt get the justice he had been fighting for. he lived for quite a while with lots of pain inside him.
: Re: New Vizconde massacre witnesses surface
: lawrencium February 13, 2016, 03:13:38 PM
Republic of the Philippines
SUPREME COURT
Manila

SECOND DIVISION

 

G.R. No. 121234 August 23, 1995

HUBERT J. P. WEBB, petitioner,
vs.
HONORABLE RAUL E. DE LEON, the Presiding Judge of the Regional Trial Court of Parañaque, Branch 258, HONORABLE ZOSIMO V. ESCANO, the Presiding Judge of the Regional Trial Court of Parañaque, Branch 259, PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, ZENON L. DE GUIA, JOVENCITO ZUÑO, LEONARDO GUIYAB, JR., ROBERTO LAO, PABLO FORMARAN, and NATIONAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, and HONORABLE AMELITA G. TOLENTINO, the Presiding Judge of the Regional Trial Court of Parañaque, Branch 274, respondents, LAURO VIZCONDE, intervenor.

G.R. No. 121245 August 23, 1995

MICHAEL A. GATCHALIAN, petitioner,
vs.
HONORABLE RAUL E. DE LEON, the Presiding Judge of the Regional Trial Court of Parañaque, Branch 258, HONORABLE ZOSIMO V. ESCANO, the Presiding Judge of the Regional Trial Court of Parañaque, Branch 259, PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, ZENON L. DE GUIYAB, JR., ROBERTO LAO, PABLO FORMARAN, and NATIONAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, and HONORABLE AMELITA G. TOLENTINO, the Presiding Judge of the Regional Trial Court of Parañaque, Branch 274, respondents.

G.R. No. 121297 August 23, 1995

ANTONIO L. LEJANO, petitioner,
vs.
HONORABLE RAUL E. DE LEON, the Presiding Judge of the Regional Trial Court of Parañaque, Branch 258, HONORABLE ZOSIMO V. ESCANO, the Presiding Judge of the Regional Trial Court of Parañaque, Branch 259, PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, ZENON L. DE GUIA, JOVENCITO ZUÑO, LEONARDO GUIYAB, JR., ROBERTO LAO, PABLO FORMARAN, and NATIONAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, and HONORABLE AMELITA G. TOLENTINO, the Presiding Judge of the Regional Trial Court of Parañaque, Branch 274, respondents.

 

PUNO, J.:

Before the Court are petitions for the issuance of the extraordinary writs of certiorari, prohibition and mandamus with application for temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction to: (1) annul and set aside the Warrants of Arrest issued against petitioners by respondent Judges Raul E. de Leon and Amelita Tolentino in Criminal Case No. 95-404; (2) enjoin the respondents from conducting any proceeding in the aforementioned criminal case; and (3) dismiss said criminal case or include Jessica Alfaro as one of the accused therein. 1

From the records of the case, it appears that on June 19, 1994, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) filed with the Department of Justice a letter-complaint charging petitioners Hubert Webb, Michael Gatchalian, Antonio J. Lejano and six (6) other persons, 2 with the crime of Rape with Homicide. Forthwith, the Department of Justice formed a panel of prosecutors headed by Assistant Chief State Prosecutor Jovencio R. Zuño to conduct the preliminary investigation 3 of those charged with the rape and killing on June 30, 1991 of Carmela N. Vizconde; 4 her mother Estrellita Nicolas-Vizconde, 5 and her sister Anne Marie Jennifer 6 in their home at Number 80 W. Vinzons, St., BF Homes, Parañaque, Metro Manila.

During the preliminary investigation, the NBI presented the following: (1) the sworn statement dated May 22, 1995 of their principal witness, Maria Jessica M. Alfaro who allegedly saw the commission of the crime; 7 (2) the sworn statements of two (2) of the former housemaids of the Webb family in the persons of Nerissa E. Rosales and Mila S. Gaviola; 8 (3) the sworn-statement of Carlos J. Cristobal who alleged that on March 9, 1991 he was a passenger of United Airlines Flight No. 808 bound for New York and who expressed doubt on whether petitioner Webb was his co-passenger in the trip; (4) the sworn statement of Lolita Birrer, a former live-in partner of Gerardo Biong, who narrated the manner of how Biong investigated and tried to cover up the crime at bar; 9 (5) the sworn statements of Belen Dometita and Teofilo Minoza, two of the Vizconde maids, and the sworn statements of Normal White, a security guard and Manciano Gatmaitan, an engineer. The autopsy reports of the victims were also submitted and they showed that Carmela had nine (9) stab wounds, Estrellita twelve (12) and Jennifer nineteen (19). 10 The genital examination of Carmela confirmed the presence of spermatozoa. 11

Before submitting his counter-affidavit, petitioner Webb filed with the DOJ Panel a Motion for Production And Examination of Evidence and Documents for the NBI to produce the following:

(a) Certification issued by the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation on the admission to and stay of Hubert Webb in the United States from March 9, 1991 to October 22, 1992;

(b) Laboratory Report No. SN-91-17 of the Medico Legal Officer, Dr. Prospero A. Cabanayan, M.D.;

(c) Sworn Statements of Gerardo C. Biong (other than his Sworn Statement dated October 7, 1991);

(d) Photographs of fingerprints lifted from the Vizconde residence taken during the investigation;

(e) Investigation records of NBI on Engr. Danilo Aguas, et al.;

(f) List of names of 135 suspects/persons investigated by the NBI per Progress Report dated September 2, 1991 submitted by Atty. Arlis Vela, Supervising Agent;

(g) Records of arrest, interview, investigation and other written statements of Jessica Alfaro (other than the May 22, 1995 Sworn Statement) conducted by the NBI and other police agencies;

(h) transmittal letter to the NBI, including the report of the investigation conducted by Superintendent Rodolfo C. Sison, Regional Deputy Director, NCRC;

(i) The names of NBI officials/agents composing the Task Force Jecares, including their respective positions and duties;

(j) Statements made by other persons in connection with the crime charged.
: Re: New Vizconde massacre witnesses surface
: lawrencium February 13, 2016, 03:16:14 PM
cont....

The motion was granted by the DOJ Panel and the NBI submitted photocopies of the documents. It alleged it lost the original of the April 28, 1995 sworn statement of Alfaro. This compelled petitioner Webb to file Civil Case No. 951099 in the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Makati, Br. 63, for the purpose, among others, of obtaining the original of said sworn statement. He succeeded, for in the course of its proceedings, Atty. Arturo L. Mercader, Jr., produced a copy of said original in compliance with a subpoena duces tecum. The original was then submitted by petitioner Webb to the DOJ Panel together with his other evidence. It appears, however, that petitioner Webb failed to obtain from the NBI the copy of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Report despite his request for its production.

Petitioner Webb claimed during the preliminary investigation that he did not commit the crime at bar as he went to the United States on March 1, 1991 and returned to the Philippines on October 27, 1992. 12 His alibi was corroborated by Honesto Aragon, Lecinia Edrosolano, Sylvia Climaco, Gina Roque, Sonia Rodriguez, Edgardo Venture and Pamela Francisco. 13 To further support his defense, he submitted documentary evidence that he bought a bicycle and a 1986 Toyota car while in the United States on said dates 14 and that he was issued by the State of California Driver's License No. A8818707 on June 14, 1991. 15 Petitioner Webb likewise submitted the letter dated July 25, 1995 of Mr. Robert Heafner, Legal Attache of the US Embassy, citing certain records tending to confirm, among others, his arrival at San Francisco, California on March 9, 1991 as a passenger in United Airlines Flight No. 808.

The other respondents — Hospicio "Pyke" Fernandez, Michael Gatchalian, Antonio "Tony Boy" Lejano, Peter Estrada, Miguel Rodriguez and Gerardo Biong — submitted sworn statements, responses, and a motion to dismiss denying their complicity in the rape-killing of the Vizcondes. 16 Only the respondents Joey Filart and Artemio "Dong" Ventura failed to file their counter-affidavits though they were served with subpoena in their last known address. 17 In his sworn statement, petitioner Gatchalian alleged that from 11 o'clock in the evening of June 29, 1991 until 3 o'clock in the morning of the following day, he was at the residence of his friends, Carlos and Andrew Syyap, at New Alabang Village, Muntinlupa watching video tapes. He claimed that his co-petitioner Lejano was with him.

On August 8, 1995, the DOJ Panel issued a 26-page Resolution "finding probable cause to hold respondents for trial" and recommending that an Information for rape with homicide be filed against petitioners and their co-respondents, 18 On the same date, it filed the corresponding Information 19 against petitioners and their co-accused with the Regional Trial Court of Parañaque. The case was docketed as Criminal Case No. 95-404 and raffled to Branch 258 presided by respondent judge Zosimo V. Escano. It was, however, the respondent judge Raul de Leon, pairing judge of Judge Escano, who issued the warrants of arrest against the petitioners. On August 11, 1995, Judge Escano voluntarily inhibited himself from the case to avoid any suspicion about his impartiality considering his employment with the NBI before his appointment to the bench. The case was re-raffled to Branch 274, presided by Judge Amelita Tolentino who issued new warrants of arrest against the petitioners and their co-accused. On August 11, 1995, petitioner Webb voluntarily surrendered to the police authorities at Camp Ricardo Papa Sr., in Bicutan, Taguig. Petitioners Gatchalian and Lejano likewise gave themselves up to the authorities after filing their petitions before us.

In their petitions at bar, petitioners contend: (1) respondent Judges de Leon and Tolentino gravely abused their discretion when they failed to conduct a preliminary examination before issuing warrants of arrest against them: (2) the DOJ Panel likewise gravely abused its discretion in holding that there is probable cause to charge them with the crime of rape with homicide; (3) the DOJ Panel denied them their constitutional right to due process during their preliminary investigation; and (4) the DOJ Panel unlawfully intruded into judicial prerogative when it failed to charge Jessica Alfaro in the Information as an accused.

We find the petitions bereft of merit.

I

Petitioners fault the DOJ Panel for its finding of probable cause. They insist that the May 22, 1995 sworn statement of Jessica Alfaro is inherently weak and uncorroborated. They hammer on alleged material inconsistencies between her April 28, 1995 and May 22, 1995 sworn statements. They assail her credibility for her misdescription of petitioner Webb's hair as semi-blonde. They also criticize the procedure followed by the DOJ Panel when it did not examine witnesses to clarify the alleged incredulities and inconsistencies in the sworn statements of the witnesses for the NBI.

We start with a restatement of the purpose of a preliminary investigation. Section 1 of Rule 112 provides that a preliminary investigation should determine " . . . whether there is a sufficient ground to engender a well-grounded belief that a crime cognizable by the Regional Trial Court has been committed and that the respondent is probably guilty thereof, and should be held for trial." Section 3 of the same Rule outlines the procedure in conducting a preliminary investigation, thus:

Sec. 3. Procedure. — Except as provided for in Section 7 hereof, no complaint or information for an offense cognizable by the Regional Trial Court shall be filed without a preliminary investigation having been first conducted in the following manner:

(a) The complaint shall state the known address of the respondent and be accompanied by affidavits of the complainant and his witnesses as well as other supporting documents, in such number of copies as there are respondents, plus two (2) copies for the official file. The said affidavits shall be sworn to before any fiscal, state prosecutor or government official authorized to administer oath, or, in their absence or unavailability, a notary public, who must certify that he personally examined the affiants and that he is satisfied that they voluntarily executed and understood their affidavits.

(b) Within ten (10) days after the filing of the complaint, the investigating officer shall either dismiss the same if he finds no ground to continue with the inquiry, or issue a subpoena to the respondent, attaching thereto a copy of the complaint, affidavits and other supporting documents. Within ten (10) days from receipt thereof, the respondent shall submit counter-affidavits and other supporting documents. He shall have the right to examine all other evidence submitted by the complainant.

(c) Such counter-affidavits and other supporting evidence submitted by the respondent shall also be sworn to and certified as prescribed in paragraph (a) hereof and copies thereof shall be furnished by him to the complainant.

(d) If the respondent cannot be subpoenaed, or if subpoenaed, does not submit counter-affidavits within the ten (10) day period, the investigating officer shall base his resolution on the evidence presented by the complainant.

(e) If the investigating officer believes that there are matters to be clarified, he may set a hearing to propound clarificatory questions to the parties or their witnesses, during which the parties shall be afforded an opportunity to be present but without the right to examine or cross-examine. If the parties so desire, they may submit questions to the investigating officer which the latter may propound to the parties or witnesses concerned.

(f) Thereafter, the investigation shall be deemed concluded, and the investigating officer shall resolve the case within ten (10) days therefrom. Upon the evidence thus adduced, the investigating officer shall determine whether or not there is sufficient ground to hold the respondent for trial.

Section 4 of Rule 112 then directs that "if the investigating fiscal finds cause to hold the respondent for trial, he shall prepare the resolution and corresponding information. He shall certify under oath that he, or as shown by the record, an authorized officer, has personally examined the complainant and his witnesses, that there is reasonable ground to believe that a crime has been committed and that the accused is probably guilty thereof . . ."

The need to find probable cause is dictated by the Bill of Rights which protects "the right of the people to be secure in their persons . . . against unreasonable searches and seizures of whatever nature . . ." 20 An arrest without a probable cause is an unreasonable seizure of a person, and violates the privacy of persons which ought not to be intruded by the State. 21 Probable cause to warrant arrest is not an opaque concept in our jurisdiction. Continuing accretions of case law reiterate that they are facts and circumstances which would lead a reasonably discreet and prudent man to believe that an offense has been committed by the person sought to be arrested. 22 Other jurisdictions utilize the term man of reasonable caution 23 or the term ordinarily prudent and cautious man. 24 The terms are legally synonymous and their reference is not to a person with training in the law such as a prosecutor or a judge but to the average man on the street. 25 It ought to be emphasized that in determining probable cause, the average man weighs facts and circumstances without resorting to the calibrations of our technical rules of evidence of which his knowledge is nil. Rather, he relies on the calculus of common sense of which all reasonable men have an abundance.

Applying these basic norms, we are not prepared to rule that the DOJ Panel gravely abused its discretion when it found probable cause against the petitioners. Petitioners belittle the truthfulness of Alfaro on two (2) grounds: (a) she allegedly erroneously described petitioner Webb's hair as semi-blond and (b) she committed material inconsistencies in her two (2) sworn statement, thus: 26

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To illustrate, the following are some examples of inconsistencies in the two sworn statements of Alfaro:

On whether Alfaro knew Carmela before the incident in question

First Affidavit: She had NOT met Carmela before June 29, 1991.

Second Affidavit: "I met her in a party sometime in February, 1991."

On whether Alfaro saw the dead bodies

First Affidavit: She did not see the three dead persons on that night. She just said "on the following day I read in the newspaper that there were three persons who were killed . . ."

Second Affidavit: "I peeped through the first door on the left. I saw two bodies on top of the bed, bloodied, and in the floor, I saw Hubert on top of Carmela."

On the alleged rape of Carmela Vizconde

First Affidavit: She did not see the act of rape.

Second Affidavit: She saw Hubert Webb "with bare buttocks, on top of Carmela and pumping, her mouth gagged and she was moaning and I saw tears on her eyes."

On how Webb, Lejano, and Ventura entered the Vizconde house

First Affidavit: "by jumping over the fence, which was only a little more than a meter high."

Second Affidavit: They "entered the gate which was already open."

On whether Alfaro entered the Vizconde house

First Affidavit: She never entered the house.

Second Affidavit: "I proceeded to the iron grill gate leading to the dirty kitchen."

In its Resolution, the DOJ Panel ruled that these alleged misdescription and inconsistencies did not erode the credibility of Alfaro. We quote the pertinent ruling, viz.: 27

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: Re: New Vizconde massacre witnesses surface
: lawrencium February 13, 2016, 03:19:04 PM
We note that the May 22, 1995 sworn statement of Alfaro was given with the assistance of counsel 28 and consists of six (6) pages, in single space reciting in rich details how the crime was planned and then executed by the petitioners. In addition, the DOJ Panel evaluated the supporting sworn statements of Nerissa Rosales and Mila Gaviola, former housemaids of the Webbs, Carlos J. Cristobal, a passenger in United Airlines Flight No. 808 and Lolita Birrer, a paramour of Gerardo Biong. The Panel assayed their statements as follows: 29

xxx xxx xxx

According to Nerissa E. Rosales, a former housemaid of the Webb family, on June 29, 1991, between 7:00 o'clock and 8:00 o'clock in the evening, Hubert was at home inside his room with two male visitors. She knew it because she and her co-housemaid, Loany, were instructed by Hubert to bring them three glasses of juice. It was the last time she saw Hubert and was later told by then Congressman Webb that Hubert was in the United States.

While Mila S. Gaviola, another former housemaid of the Webb family and who served as a laundry woman, claims, aside from corroborating the statement of Nerissa Rosales, that on June 30, 1991, she woke up at around 4:00 in the morning and as what she used to do, she entered the rooms of the Webbs to get their clothes to be washed. As a matter of fact, in that early morning, she entered Hubert's room and saw Hubert, who was only wearing his pants, already awake and smoking while he was sitting on his bed. She picked up Hubert's scattered clothes and brought them together with the clothes of the other members of the family to the laundry area. After taking her breakfast, she began washing the clothes of the Webbs. As she was washing the clothes of Hubert Webb, she noticed fresh bloodstains in his shirt. After she finished the laundry, she went to the servant's quarters. But feeling uneasy, she decided to go up to the stockroom near Hubert's room to see what he was doing. In the said stockroom, there is a small door going to Hubert's room and in that door there is a small opening where she used to see Hubert and his friends sniffing on something. She observed Hubert was quite irritated, uneasy, and walked to and from inside his room.

On that day, she noticed Hubert left the house at around 1:00 in the afternoon and came back at around 4:00 in the same afternoon and went inside his room using the secret door of the house. It was the last time that she saw Hubert until she left the Webb family.

On the other hand, Carlos J. Cristobal alleged that on March 9, 1991, at about 10:00 in the morning, he was at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport as he was then scheduled to take the United Airlines Flight No. 808 at 2:00 in the afternoon for New York. At the airport's lobby, he saw then Congressman Freddie Webb with a male companion. He greeted him and Webb answered: "Mabuti naman, at ito, ihahatid ko ang anak ko papuntang Florida." He knew Freddie Webb because he often watched him then in a television show "Chicks to Chicks." He observed that the man whom Freddie Webb referred to as his son, was of the same height as Freddie. The son referred to has fair complexion with no distinguishing marks on his face. He (son of Webb) was then wearing a striped white jacket. When he and his children were already inside the plane, he did not see Freddie anymore, but he noticed his son was seated at the front portion of the economy class. He never noticed Freddie Webb's son upon their arrival in San Francisco. He claims that, while watching the television program "DONG PUNO LIVE" lately, he saw the wife of Freddie Webb with her lawyer being interviewed, and when she described Hubert as "moreno" and small built, with a height of five feet and seven inches tall, and who was the one who left for United States on March 9, 1991, he nurtured doubts because such description does not fit the physical traits of the son of Freddie, who left with him for United States on the same flight and date.

Lolita Birrer, alleged that she know Gerardo Biong because she had an affair with him for almost three (3) years and in fact, she had a child with him who is now four (4) years old. Their relationship started in February, 1991 until she broke up with him in September 1993. She recalls that on June 29, 1991, at around 6:00 p.m., Biong invited her to play mahjong at the canteen of a certain Aling Glo located at the back of the Parañaque Municipal Hall.

At about 2:30, in the early morning of January 30, 1991, the radio operator of the Parañaque police told Biong that he has a phone call. Before Biong went to the radio room, she was instructed to take him over and after somebody won the game, she followed Biong at the radio room where she overheard him uttering, "Ano?, Saan? Mahirap yan, Paano, o sige, aantayin kita, O ano?, dilaw na taxi, o sige." When he put the phone down, Biong told her, "Mayroon lang akong rerespondehan, ikaw muna ang maupo" and then, he went outside the canteen apparently waiting for somebody. Twenty minutes later, a taxi, colored yellow, arrived with a male passenger sitting at the backseat and parked near the canteen. After it made some signals by blinking its headlight, Biong rode thereat at the front seat beside the driver and then, they left. She was not able to recognize the male passenger because the window of the taxi was tinted. Biong came back at around 7:00 of the same morning and when he arrived, he immediately washed his hands and face, and took his handkerchief from his pocket which he threw at the trash can. She asked him why he threw his handkerchief and he answered, "Hmp . . . amoy tae." She inquired what happened in BF Homes and he replied, "Putang inang mga batang iyon, pinahirapan nila ako."

Biong later invited her for breakfast, but they first went to his office where she observed him doing something in his steel cabinet while he appeared to be uneasy. Moments later, Galvan, another policeman of Parañaque, arrived and said, "Oy Biong, may tatlong patay sa BF, imbestigahan mo" to which Biong answered, "Oo susunod na ako." Biong went to the office of Capt. Don Bartolome who offered to accompany him and with whom she asked permission to go with them. Before they proceeded to the place where the killings happened, she asked Biong if he knew the exact address and the latter immediately responded, "Alam ko na yon." She was surprised because Galvan never told him the place of the incident.

As soon as they arrived at the Vizconde's residence, Biong instructed the housemaids to contact the victim's relatives, while the security guard fetched the barangay chairman and the president of the Homeowners Association. When all these persons were already in the house, Biong started recording the wounds of the victim. Inside the master's bedroom, she saw Biong took a watch from the jewelry box. Because she could not tolerate the foul odor, she and Capt. Bartolome went out of the room and proceeded to the dining area. On top of the dining table, she saw the scattered contents of a shoulder bag. Moments later, Biong came out from the room and proceeded to the front door to remove the chain lock; asked the keys from the housemaid and it was only then that the main door was opened. Biong noticed a stone in front of the broken glass of the door and requested Capt. Bartolome to go inside the servant's quarters as he doubted the housemaids' claim that they heard nothing unusual. Using the handle of his gun, Biong broke the remaining glass of the door panel. Bartolome then came out of the room and told Biong that he can hear the sound of the glass being broken. At the garage, Biong also noticed same marks on the hood of the car.

On the following day, at around 12:00 noon, Biong arrived in her house together with the Vizconde housemaids. When Biong was preparing to take a bath, she saw him remove from his pocket the things she also saw from Vizconde's residence, to wit: calling cards, driver's license, ATM card, a crossed check worth P80,000.00, earrings, a ring, bracelet, necklace, and the watch he took from the jewelry box inside the room of the Vizcondes. These jewelry items were later pawned by Biong for P20,000.00 at a pawnshop in front of Chow-Chow restaurant in Santos Avenue, Parañaque. The next day, she saw Biong took from his locker at the Parañaque Police Station an imported brown leather jacket, which the latter claimed to have been given to him by the person who called him up in the early morning of June 30, 1991.

Since then, Biong has been wearing said jacket until they broke up sometime in 1993. She observed that Biong seemed not interested in pursuing the investigation of the Vizconde case. In fact, when Biong and this group picked up Mike Gatchalian and brought him to the Parañaque Police Station, she was surprised that Biong halted the investigation when Gatchalian was profusely sweating while being interrogated. After the father of Gatchalian talked to Colonel Pureza, the latter called up and instructed Biong to bring Gatchalian to him (Colonel Pureza) and that was the last thing she remembered regarding this case.
: Re: New Vizconde massacre witnesses surface
: naruto789544 February 14, 2016, 11:10:10 AM
hmmm... kinamatayan na ni lauro vizconde ito... hope true justice will come out...