P'que court staff says DNA sample in Vizconde case not with them

The DNA sample pivotal for the possible reopening of the Vizconde massacre case seems to be nowhere to be found. A staff of a Parañaque court that tried the case has denied that the DNA is in their possession, contrary to the claims of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). Max Potente, legal researcher of Parañaque Regional Trial Court branch 274, said they do not have the specimen based on the court's transcript of stenographic notes. "Hindi ako sigurado kung talagang na-submit nila [NBI] kasi matagal na, hindi ko talaga matandaan (I can’t remember if the NBI submitted it to us)," Potente told GMA News' Emil Sumangil in an exclusive interview aired over "24 Oras." He added the court does not have sufficient storage facility to preserve such evidence. "Mas maganda tanungin prosecution kung na-offer nila as evidence yun specimen (You should ask the prosecution if the specimen was offered as evidence in the case)."
The Supreme Court last week granted the request of Hubert Webb, who was convicted for the massacre along with eight others, to conduct DNA analysis and present forensic evidence for examination to bolster his own defense. The high court ordered the NBI to assist in the examination of the specimen. The semen specimen was taken from victim Carmela Vizconde, which was reportedly raped before being killed along with her mother Estrellita and six-year old sister Jennifer Vizconde in their Parañaque home on June 29, 1991. Nine people were convicted in the case, including Webb, son of former Senator Freddie Webb. The NBI however said the specimen was no longer with them. According to deputy director for technical services Reynaldo Esmeralda, they had turned over the semen specimen to the Parañaque Regional Trial Court. In a five-page compliance report, Esmeralda said the specimen was submitted as evidence to the Parañaque RTC by then NBI Medico Legal chief Prospero Cabanayan MD when he testified on direct and cross examinations. He said they do not know if the court was able to preserve the specimen. “We cannot speculate, but as far as the NBI is concerned, it is properly turned over and these are placed three glass slides and there was cover slip." Based on the testimony of star witness Jessica Alfaro, it was Webb who raped Carmela. Webb and his eight co-accused were convicted on January 6, 2000 and sentenced to life imprisonment. The conviction was affirmed by the Court of Appeals on December 15, 2005. - KBK, GMANews.TV