NBI can finish Vizconde case in 6 months, says ex-chief

MANILA, Philippines – Former National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) director Epimaco Velasco believes that the bureau can finish the reinvestigation of the 1991 Vizconde massacre case in six months before the end of the 20-year prescriptive period.

“I believe the NBI can do it if they will really pursue it,” Velasco said during a recent face off with former NBI director Salvador Mison.

Once the prescriptive period sets in, the search for justice of Lauro Vizconde in the gruesome killings of his wife Estrellita, 47, and daughters Carmela, 18, and Jennifer, 7, will be moot and academic.

The Supreme Court (SC) had earlier ordered the release from prison of Hubert Webb and his co-accused Antonio Lejano, Hospicio Fernandez, Michael Gatchalian, Miguel Rodriquez and Peter Estrada, citing the failure of the prosecution to prove their guilt beyond reasonable doubt.

Velasco, who was NBI director from July 31, 1992 to March 20, 1995, backed the acquittal of Webb and his group, saying there is no evidence against them.

He also branded NBI star witness Jessica Alfaro as merely “manufactured” and her testimony as “coached.”

Velasco added that the second set of suspects composed of construction workers and policemen were the real culprits in the massacre because the physical evidence pointed to them as the perpetrators of the crime.

He said there was no sign of forced entry on the kitchen or main door of the Vizconde house, contrary to Alfaro’s testimony that Webb and his co-accused passed through the kitchen door that was left open by Carmela to allow them inside the house.

If the reinvestigation again comes up with Webb and his co-accused as the suspects, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said they could no longer be charged due to the principle of double jeopardy.

Webb and his co-accused have repeatedly professed their innocence.

Mison was NBI director from July 1, 1995 to Feb. 3, 1996.

De Lima has also ordered the immediate arrest of Joey Filart and Artemio “Dong” Ventura, who have remained at-large.

Once arrested, Filart and Ventura will be arraigned so the court can acquire jurisdiction over their person.

Mison has maintained that Webb and his co-accused were the real suspects in the massacre.

He said he personally conducted an investigation in the case and talked to people who swore Webb was in the country when the massacre occurred.

This was contrary to Webb’s alibi that he was in the United States, even showing a videotape taken while frolicking in the snow at Orange County in California on the day of the Vizconde killings.