The list of shows I watched tonight is a bit heavy for the soul actually.
The first one, The Final Destination (4) on HBO. I really don’t know why I am such a fan of this gruesome movie, but ever since Devon Sawa started the premonition of deaths, i just became enthusiastic with the plot. Haha. After watching it I decided to switch to Star Movies, and Drag Me To Hell didn’t ended yet. I saw myself laughing at some parts of the film, but the heck, this is one crazy movie!
And lastly, I watched Cheche Lazaro Presents: Dalawang Mukha Ng Hustisya on ABSCBN. A documentary about the Vizconde Massacre. Being a Communication student, documentaries and the like really gets my attention. And this one, i must say, is well done.
Anyway, what really struck me with the show is how it got me to sympathize with Hubert Webb. The primary suspect for the murder case. Investigations for unresolved cases and its mysteries are just some of the stories that I enjoy watching. I can still remember how this murder case became a hoopla in the 90’s. But at that time, my basis for judgment is only what I see in the television, I mean, I don’t have my own speculations, theory and logical explanations for it. The media says its Hubert Webb who has to go to jail, then I have to hate him, just because.
I also remember Jason Webb!! I remembered my friend Cello (she is Ms.Ganda, the one who sang Payong,tagalog version of Umbrella), we were classmates during our freshmen yr. in St.Paul and we would get excited to watch the progress in the Vizconde massacre, bec.I like Jason Webb and she likes Hubert Webb =) I saw Jason again on TV, and just the same, he looks adorable and cute… but of course a lot older.
All the memories I can remember about the Vizconde massacre came back. It’s not like I was involved in it, but I recall, maybe being an aspiring media practitioner as I am, I was very eager to watch all the news related to the case. I remembered hating Hubert Webb. But realizing now… was it really Hubert Webb who should be there in jail for 15 years?
The US Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) certified that Hubert was in the US from March 1991 to October 1992. The Vizconde was murdered at June 30, 1991. There was even a video of him and his relatives playing on the snow with the date 1991 on the lower right corner of the screen. Lastly Hubert also requested for a semen sample of Carmela Vizconde if it would match his, since Carmela was raped before being murdered. After 13 years since Hubert requested for it, the Supreme Court finally agreed. The NBI, however, informed the Supreme Court that it no longer has the specimen and other laboratory reports, photographs and documentary evidence related to the case because it turned these over to the Parañaque RTC in 1996.
The family is very hopeful that the DNA test will be there salvation since if the Supreme Court couldn’t show the said specimen, the chances of Hubert to be released is higher.
Don’t get me wrong though, I also sympathize for Lauro Vizconde, the father of the family. How can I not be, he lost his wife and children while he is in the US. This is his fight. But then again, how can he still say that the justice system is unfair and that those with money and power are the ones who always win, when the accused Hubert Webb has been in jail for an agonizing 15 years.
I apologize for having a biased opinion, but I just based this primarily on evidences. What is Jessica Alfaro’s inconsistent statements against a certification that the accused is abroad the day the incident happened and that the accused is brave enough to challenge the court for a DNA test. I don’t know how I never considered these factors way back. Maybe because I am not that critical yet. Or maybe because Mara Clara influenced me that the underdog is ALWAYS right. I really don’t know, but so far, I am convinced that it’s not Hubert Webb.
I just hope that Lauro Vizconde would not be naive to consider all factors. I mean, would he rather have no suspect or accusing a wrong one? Whatever it is, the truth will always prevail, I believe on that. It will… in time… hopefully soon.
update is HERE
50 comments:
Just watched the documentary too. Don't rush to judgement quite yet. Has it ever occured to you that the Webb family is just using the media to gain symphaty?
What about this? Why not Che-Che make documentaries on the other convicts? If we can listen to their side of the story without all the drama about maternal love, bilibid visits, etc., maybe the truth on really what happened will come out if Hubert is really innocent.
i get your point =) though just like what i have said on this entry, i based my judgment on the evidences that he is 8000 miles away from the country when the murder happened. On the sympathy part, it's more of the effect of my judgment rather than the cause. I mean,i felt sad on Hubert's condition right after i have heard the evidences (that he's abroad and the DNA test). If I would see stronger evidences against Hubert,then maybe this presumption of mine will change once again,hehe.
But ultimately, my main concern here is that, what if he is not the suspect all along, then I will feel sad knowing that after all, justice still didn't prevail. I appreciate your comment still though =)
dumb girl......
stupid filipino girl thinks she knows what she is talking about.... finds a convicted rapist and murderer hot?! wtf kinda person are you and how did ur parents bring you up.....
hi dumb and dumber!
first of all i made it clear that WHATEVER I PUT IN HERE IS MY SAY OF THE STORY, MY OPINION COZ AFTER ALL...THIS IS MY BLOG. Why don't you write on your own blog,that is if you are worthy enough to own one. Besides you are ANONYMOUS, what the??
Lastly, did you read my entire post? I mentioned instances on why I believe he is not the suspect. So why would I even consider his legal matters in terms of whether I find him cute or not? I am dumb for taking note of the other party's side of the case? Well guess what, you are so dumb, you actually take blog entries like this toooo personal just bec.you are convinced that Webb is the suspect. You guys should read my entry like what, a hundred times? So that you can FULLY UNDERSTAND that I respect both sides of the story, BUT I have my own say of it. And that's how you practice human intellect, if ever you have one. C'mon, my parents raised me too well, and I bet you would never understand how that feels =) God bless!
you are still dumb.
yep... ur still dumb... even if u dont approve this post.
The Webb family still has a lot of influence and money to be able to get this kind of media attention after 15 years of the incident.
What is so sad about this attention is that of the 6 people who were imprisoned, only Hubert got the attention and not the 5 un-named ones.
napanood ko rin yung documentary. and after that, parang nag turn 180 degrees yung pananaw ko sa kaso. I dont think na the Webb's are just using the media to gain sympathy, first of all, yung media nga ang nagbagsak kay Webb e, Second, napaka credible ng mga documentaries ni cheche Lazaro. I dont think magpapagamit sya.
Nice Post, simula noon napanood ko yun, palagi pumapasok sa isip ko na mag research about dun..
Naniwala ako bigla na parang innocent si Hubert.
napanood ko rin yung documentary. and after that, parang nag turn 180 degrees yung pananaw ko sa kaso. I dont think na the Webb's are just using the media to gain sympathy, first of all, yung media nga ang nagbagsak kay Webb e, Second, napaka credible ng mga documentaries ni cheche Lazaro. I dont think magpapagamit sya.
Nice Post, simula noon napanood ko yun, palagi pumapasok sa isip ko na mag research about dun..
Naniwala ako bigla na parang innocent si Hubert.
-tristan
to the anonymous who proudly calls me dumb..
THANKS! I appreciate you checking on my blog *blushing* =D
to DAVID
Yeah, that's true! at least you respected my opinion even if you disagree with me on this. good job =D
to TRISTAN
HIGH FIVE! What's your blog,hope I can check it sometime =)
Ang bilis bilis nyo naman mabrainwash. Oo nga meron ngang video pero how sure are you na hindi tampered ang date sa video ha? Sa tingin nyo walang connections mga Webb para mawala ang mga DNA evidence? Eh sa house nga ng mga visconde halos walang makitang evidence eh daig pa ang csi. Kaya nga ang lakas lakas ng loob magpa DNA test eh. MEDIA, media. media.. nasan na ang massacre sa Maguindanao, yun nalang ang asikasuhin nyo. Unfortunately nasa Pilipinas tayo. I'm not saying na sure na siya pero ang point ko is ang bilis bilis nyo manghusga na inosente siya dahil sabi daw ni che che lazaro. pwede ba!
hi another anonymous =) I understand your point, I guess the show is just sticking up to its title "dalawang mukha ng hustisya", for the past years isang mukha lang ang nakikita naten. I have a question though, have you guys watched it? Fair yung kwento.. it's just so nice to finally see the other side,that's all =)
If there is someone who suffering it's not Hubert Webb but Lauro Vizconde. Violent murder of his wife and two children will scar him for the rest of his life. Has anyone even thought about that?
everybody thought of that for sure. and that is why we all want the truth. considering the other side of the story doesn't mean you are disregarding the suffering of the other =)
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=115489978501905
Hi fao, your opinion matters. please join our group..
cool thanks =D
think about this... maybe its the judge who's keeping something from coming up, I mean why deny DNA testing? why give more weight on a drug addict's testimony over legal ang public documents that say otherwise? ONLY IN THE PHILIPPINES... pag naghahanap tayo ng katotohanan di ba dapat titingnan lahat ng anggulo at gagawin ang lahat para mapatunayan ang totoo? KINOKONSENSYA NA NGAYON SI JUDGE TOLENTINO... kung meron siya.
think about this... maybe its the judge who's keeping something from coming up, I mean why deny DNA testing? why give more weight on a drug addict's testimony over legal ang public documents that say otherwise? ONLY IN THE PHILIPPINES... pag naghahanap tayo ng katotohanan di ba dapat titingnan lahat ng anggulo at gagawin ang lahat para mapatunayan ang totoo? KINOKONSENSYA NA NGAYON SI JUDGE TOLENTINO... kung meron siya.
good point, good point! if the judge has something to do with it, then I really do hope na may konsensya sya!=)
It is great that you have an open-mind. Those who judged Hubert Webb before and today know nothing about the case and refuse to read and research. Cheers to you!
DISCLAIMER: I purposely did not use my Google account, because I don't want to be harassed. Sorry. I am a mom with kids, and a blogger, too. I personally do not know Hubert Webb, nor the Vizcondes, but I just want to say something. ;)
Fao, good post. I, too, watched the docu. My tita (family friend) was with the Webbs in the US (including Hubert) during the time of the Vizconde murder. Her family was one of the first to protest Hubert's involvement, but the judge did not even allow them to testify. They accepted all evidence from the US, but declared them "fixed". I, like you, do not understand how this could be so. Must be a judge wanting attention, no?
Anyway, maybe the real culprits are trying to sway public opinion by posting all these "anonymous" comments on blogs, on Facebook, etc. C'mon, people, we live in the tech age. You honestly think people cannot see that the IP addresses from your posts belong to just one person? Duh.
to gary & trixie: thanks! there's always two sides of the story =)
to anonymous: wow really? now i am more convinced! thanks for sharing and I really do pray for a good outcome!
Nice post.Just ignore those people na walang kwenta yung sinasabi.Comment lang,we used to live sa bf homes and The reason kaya walang nakuhang evidence sa bahay ng vizconde that time is because of the police negligence. Also, sinunog nila ang mga evidence just for the reason na nangangamoy na daw. All they took was photos and some blood samples. The first investigations revealed fingerprints from the bulb,na nag matched sa first batch of suspects na hinuli ng Nbi. Pero pinakawalan nila agad nung lumabas yung star witness na si Jesica Alfaro.
If Mr. Vizconde really wants justice dapat pakinggan niya lahat ng sides at maging maliwanag isip niya sa evidence.Nagpapagamit kasi siya kung kani-kanino.
It just shows na walang justice dito sa Pilipinas, kasi sa Vizconde massacre isa lang ang witness na convict agad si Hubert, eh sa Maguindanao tambak na witness na lumabas wala pa din nahahatulan.
Wow! Good point, esp.the last part! Yeah, it's a sad fact, at least we are not afraid to stand for what we believe in =)
Who does not have sympathy for Mr. Lauro Vizconde? Who does not want to punish the REAL culprits? But what if the ones in jailed are not? Is justice serve? For both of them?
If I remember it right, there were two other corroborating witnesses to the testimony of Jessica Alfaro. One was given by the Security Guard on duty at the gate of W. Vinzons Street who testified that the Alabang Boys riding in three separate vehicles went in and out of Vinzons Street on the Night of June 30, 1991. Hubert Webb was properly indentified by the S/G to be the arrogant driver of a Nissan Patrol as he refused to hand over his driver's license which is an SOP when you enter a secured perimeter. After the incident, Sgt. Gerardo Biong came later and confiscated his logbook. The other witness was the laundry woman of the Webbs who washed the bloodied shirt of Hubert the morning after. The employment agency quickly issued a certification denying that the maid was on duty that particular date. This is so far the most frivolous document obtained by the accused Webb to be presented in court vis-a-vis with the travel documents and the certification from the US INS. There were blunders in the trials as well. DNA testing should have been allowed in 1997, this could pin down immediately three of the accused who according to the star witness, took turns in raping Carmela. I personally witnessed how Judge Tolentino presided some of the civil and criminal cases in RTC PQ. She was a typical judge who favors grandstanding.
If I remember it right, there were two other corroborating witnesses to the testimony of Jessica Alfaro. One was given by the Security Guard on duty at the gate of W. Vinzons Street who testified that the Alabang Boys riding in three separate vehicles went in and out of Vinzons Street on the Night of June 30, 1991. Hubert Webb was properly indentified by the S/G to be the arrogant driver of a Nissan Patrol as he refused to hand over his driver's license which is an SOP when you enter a secured perimeter. After the incident, Sgt. Gerardo Biong came later and confiscated his logbook. The other witness was the laundry woman of the Webbs who washed the bloodied shirt of Hubert the morning after. The employment agency quickly issued a certification denying that the maid was on duty that particular date. This is so far the most frivolous document obtained by the accused Webb to be presented in court vis-a-vis with the travel documents and the certification from the US INS. There were blunders in the trials as well. DNA testing should have been allowed in 1997, this could pin down immediately three of the accused who according to the star witness, took turns in raping Carmela. I personally witnessed how Judge Tolentino presided some of the civil and criminal cases in RTC PQ. She was a typical judge who favors grandstanding.
Anonymous and Fao. How about the maids of the Webbs and the security guards at BF Homes? Are they not witnesses that belies Hubert's claim. Please explain.
personally, I dont think I should explain the evidences of the vizcondes, we all have our own beliefs, I may be wrong after all, but like what the other anonymous said, in the end we just want to be sure that the real culprits will suffer, so hopefully all factors can be considered.
I want to know what Jessica Alfaro's motive for deciding to become a witness? I'm convinced that it's not to seek justice for the Vizconde family, otherwise it won't take her four years to come out.
good point =)
hi fao, nice post, yup, i watched the documentary too, and it did show the two faces of justice on equal footing. Like everybody else, i just want for the truth to come out. So far, the victims of this case are Hubert and Mang Lauro themselves. Imagine, how could Hubert made to linger in jail for 15 years,not to mention the public ridicule he was and has been subjected to, if it turns out that he was judged wrongly. On the other hand, consider Mang Lauro's renewed quest for justice for his family if the SC decides otherwise. With his old age now and his fast deteriorating health, i dont think he can still outlived his time on earth before the truth to finally come out. It's like Mang Lauro going back to a dark room again, groping for the door which will give him light.
If i were to re-title Che-Che documentary, it would have been "The two victims of justice".
mankind justice has some imperfections,only god's justice is pure and sans errors. Thus, we follow judicial process in evaluating a case and the law says that more credence is being given to testimonial evidence of the witness than pure alibis. The US certification that Hubert was in the US when the crime was committed was only note verbale. Judge Tolentino asked for a formal certification from the then US Secretary of State, but i think the defense failed to obtain this.
mankind justice has some imperfections,only god's justice is pure and sans errors. Thus, we follow judicial process in evaluating a case and the law says that more credence is being given to testimonial evidence of the witness than pure alibis. The US certification that Hubert was in the US when the crime was committed was only note verbale. Judge Tolentino asked for a formal certification from the then US Secretary of State, but i think the defense failed to obtain this.
hi anonymous and koch!
whew, i have intelligent readers here, nice!
I dont think though that 'the two victims of justice' is proper since we are not sure if hubert is wrongly accused, although of course I personally hope he is =)
there is actually one maid who testified, but the agency that signed her testified too that she was not employed by the Webbs during the time of the crime. The security guard that testified could not produce a log book, and was not even sure that Hubert was in the area at the time of the crime.
Hubert actually asked the CA for DNA test in 1997 but Judge Tolentino denied it. Mind that an NBI doctor has certified the presence of the semen sample that same year.
As for the documents presented to justify Hubert's whereabouts at the time of the crime, they were note verbale, which means they ere requested by the Philippine Government, not by the Webbs. NBI also sent a document of Huberts day to day activity while in the US. What's shocking is that former NBI director, upon receiving the documents from the FBI and INS, he decided to hide them. The Webbs actually had to ask the judge to compel the ex-director to present the documents to the court. The documents showed that Hubert arrived to the US in March 1991 and left October 1992. These papers were not proven falsified by the prosecution, thus deemed authentic. However, judge Tolentino did not accept these documents, and made a statement that she is only going to accept them if the then Secretary of State swears to testify in her courtroom. How ludicrous is that?
another good point!=D
If Hubert Webb went to USA on March 19, 1991 and stayed until Oct29,1991, he must have requested for a visa extension which I doubt he got one. For your information, visitors are only given maximum of 6 months to stay upon arrival in USA.It is very clear that Hubert Webb went to USA 2x between March 19 and Oct 29 using different passports. This is the reason why all the alibis presented in the court were disregarded in the trial and he was prosecuted and guilty.
hubert webb , guilty or not guilty , whatever the result was, the accused hubert webb along with other people, already served time in prison. the vizconde family who are the main victims, really suffered. life gets into everybody , physically or mentally. the the vizconde massacre incident is just one of so many things we encounter. let this story be a reminder to us all to be very cautious to our surroundings so we can avoid these situations that could happen to any of us.
let us just try to do good to our selves, our family, and neighbors.
halimbawa ko lang po sa mga taong nakikipag away sa kalye, hindi po tayo ang may ari ng kalye. halos isang minuto ka lang dadaan sa isang bahagi ng kalye, wag na makipag away at makipagsingitan at makipag sigawan. hindi ikaw ang may ari ng kalye. ang kalye ay para daanan ng lahat. magbigayan lang po at wag maging swapang.
sana naman po magcontribute ang mga filipino kahit unti unti sa sarili po muna natin magsisimula ang pagbabago. mamuhay po tayo ng masaya. mag ingat din po dahil maraming loko loko.
condo for sale
- www.etonproperty.com
Mr. Vizconde should have learned to move on. He would have been happier. If he believes in God then he would wait for the real justice. Putting somebody in jail won't make him happy. It's the acceptance of the truth.
yeah, same as what i have said on my latest entry. i agree with everything u said =)
I've watched Che Che Lazaro's documentary. It's really well done. When you posted this entry, Webb et al's acquittal has not yet happened. I've read the supreme court decision & the dissenting opinions of one of the justices and the thing that bothered me was he never ever presented his original passport as part of his alibi. Here is an excerpt of the dissenting opinion of Justice Villarama:
"Appellant Webb’s travel documents and other supposed paper trail of his stay in the US are unreliable proof of his absence in the Philippines at the time of the commission of the crime charged. The non-submission in evidence of his original passport, which was not formally offered and made part of the records, had deprived the RTC, CA and this Court the opportunity to examine the same. Such
original is a crucial piece of evidence which unfortunately was placed beyond judicial scrutiny."
His stay in the US is his only defense against this accusation and the only basis the SC had in acquitting him and his buddies.
the che che lazaro docu was very biased. i am nort surprised at all. pinky webb is from abs-cbn. if they are not guilty, why would anyone think of pinning them down? they are not easy to implicate as fall guys since they come from influential families.
the webbs have the gall to attack mr. vizconde personally making such low blows. in the first place, mr vizconde was not the one who did the investigation himself. it was the police. why would alfaro, and so many other witnesses risk their lives in going against influential suspects if not for their personal knowledge of culpability?
and if they implicated the wrong guys, why are two still at large??
I seldom leave comments on blog, but I have been to this post which was recommend by my friend, lots of valuable details, thanks again.
cool thanks =D
I watched the documentary and i was flabbergasted! I also had a long argument with my Dad and siblings i came to the conclusion that Hubert Webb might indeed be innocent, and of course they disagree and believed i was just bias. Being radically obsessed with Real Crime Scene Investigations. I thought about this really hard. This crime was carefully planned its not just a coincidence that men Got high and decided to seize the victims. What if it was Jessica Alfaro? who had staged and planned everything to gain Fame? This is Just a what if okay no negative reactions please this is just an opinion. You never know... maybe.. It happens.. The person most unlikely that you can think of to commit the crime might be the mastermind.
hi anonymous (again) =)
Good observation! Some thought it might be Jessica too, but yeah, we'll never know... yet.
Let's just hope for the best I guess.
Yes you are right. For me it was carefully planned right after the crime was committed. I don't think Hubert is the real killer for he is in the U.S. as they wanna prove. Jessica Alfaro could have been paid to confess a lie. Everyone involved here could have been used to cover up the real truth, truth that would shock the Philippines or even the entire world. That is all that i can say. These are very powerful people. People that would do anything to protect their family. This is a close call for them. Justice could have been hiding just right under our noses. If only these investigators would dig deep and that they shouldn't go any farther... My prayers to the Vizconde family
I just came across this blog and was surprised at how some of you talked as if you actually saw what happened or have seen the actual documents or were part of the investigation. You're presenting arguments based on what you read in the papers. Haven't you realized by now that the media can be pretty biased against or for someone? It's amazing too how we Pinoys tend to make our judgments on or change our minds based on a documentary which can also be made by the same media I just mentioned. It's equally amazing how we also tend to be easily swayed by looks. Pinoy nga naman. No wonder Philippine showbiz is full of half Pinoys and half Puti. No wonder why we almost always end up with corrupt public officials. God help the Philippines!
Post a Comment