NBI to finish inventory of Vizconde massacre evidence by Tuesday

The Philippines’ National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is expected to finish the process of collecting and listing pieces of evidence from the 1991 Vizconde massacre by Tuesday. The inventory was undertaken after the Supreme Court approved DNA testing for convicted rapist Hubert Webb to see if it matches the semen found on rape victim Carmela Vizconde. “Hopefully, by tomorrow (Tuesday) we can finish the inventory and turn it over to University of the Philippines-Natural Science and Research Institute (UP-NSRI)," said NBI Deputy Director for Technical Services lawyer Reynaldo Esmeralda. The UP-NSRI will conduct the DNA analysis of semen specimen found during the investigation. The NBI may also file a report at the SC once the specimens are received by the UP-NSRI as scheduled, Esmeralda said. SC Administrator and spokesman Midas Marquez said it is possible that the results of the DNA testing would come after a few months. He further clarified that the 15-day deadline given by the High Court to UP-NSRI and the NBI is merely a period of compliance, not a deadline for the results of the DNA analysis. “The UP-NSRI and NBI are only required to report of the development or what steps they have already taken to do the tasks and not necessary to submit the result," said Marquez. Lauro Vizconde, father of Carmela Vizconde, meanwhile said that he plans to file a motion for reconsideration for fear that the results will not be credible. “Way back in 1997, we already opposed the conduct of DNA test and it (motion) was already dismissed that time. It is only now that the SC decided to proceed with the conduct of DNA analysis. My worry is the result will no longer be credible because of the long period of time of its storage. And we are worried that this will lead to the acquittal of Hubert Webb. We have to act now, we have to do something," he said. In a 15-page resolution, the SC stated that the DNA analysis is being done only to afford Webb of his constitutional right to due process. Moreover, there is no assurance that the results will be in his favor. The SC also added “that a flawed procedure in the conduct of DNA analysis of the semen specimen on the slides used during the trial for microscopic examination of human spermatozoa may yield an inclusive result and thus will not entitle the accused to an acquittal." On June 30, 1991, Estrelita Vizconde and her daughters Carmela and Jennifer were murdered in their home in BF homes, Paranaque. Carmela was raped before being killed. Webb, along with five other accused, were sentenced to life imprisonment in January 2000. - Jasmine Shewakramani/RJAB Jr., GMANews.TV