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Palace backs reinvestigation of Vizconde massacre case


(Updated 10:37 p.m.) Malacañang is supporting a reinvestigation of the nearly 20-year-old Vizconde massacre case because the perpetrators of the crime must be brought to justice, a Palace spokesperson said Wednesday. At a press briefing, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the government is duty-bound to close cases and make sure that the perpetrators of crimes are penalized. "It goes without saying that every case which remains unsolved should be pursued so that the perpetrators will be brought to justice," Valte said. The Palace official made the statement after Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said the chances of reinvestigating the massacre case are high after the Supreme Court acquitted Hubert Webb and six others who were previously convicted for the murders of Carmela Vizconde, her mother Estrellita, and her seven-year-old sister Jennifer in 1991.
Valte said that from what she understands, Philippine National Police chief Dir. Gen. Raul Bacalzo has already said they are reopening the massacre case. "I think Chief Bacalzo has already said that they are reopening the case for investigation because as you know, the accused in that case were acquitted yesterday and as it is the case remains unsolved and it's the duty of the state to make sure that the perpetrators are found and that they are brought to justice," she said. Valte, a lawyer, clarified that a reopened investigation should not revolve around Webb's group since indicting them again would constitute double jeopardy. The Palace official also urged Lauro Vizconde, Carmela's father, to divulge information about his allegation that there were pay-offs in the Supreme Court decision to acquit Webb and the others. "He should go to the authorities and give his side of the story and if he has evidence, it will be pursued as in any case reported to the DOJ and the police," said Valte. Aquino reiterates sympathies for Vizconde In an ambush interview in Occidental Mindoro on Wednesday, President Benigno Aquino III reiterated his sympathies with Lauro Vizconde, which he earlier expressed in a text message on Tuesday. "Ako kahapon, nakita ko si Ginoong Lauro Vizconde. Talagang parang mahirap isipin na namatayan ka ng buong pamilya mo, tapos akala mo ay nakamtan mo na ang katarungan, tapos ngayon ay balik na naman tayo sa square one," he said. (Yesterday, I saw Mr. Lauro Vizconde. It's really difficult to imagine losing your family, and just when you think you've achieved justice, you realize you're back on square one.) Aquino had asked on Tuesday for a briefer on the Vizconde massacre issue. (See: Aquino sympathizes with Lauro Vizconde) In a vote of 7-4-4 on Tuesday, the Supreme Court reversed two lower courts' findings that found Webb and six others guilty of killing three members of the Vizconde family. The others were Antonio Lejana, Peter Estrada, Michael Gatchalian, Miguel Rodriguez, Hospicio Fernandez, and former policeman Gerardo Biong. SC spokesman Jose Midas Marquez said the court acquitted the seven "for the failure of the prosecution to rule their guilt beyond reasonable doubt." The majority of the 15-member court also expressed doubts about the credibility of the star witness, Jessica Alfaro, who is now out of the country. — RSJ/KBK/JV, GMANews.TV
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