Do you favor the reopening of the Vizconde massacre case?

Carmela Ramento, Cagayan de Oro City: It’s useless. The old man would have long joined his loved ones in the great beyond before another verdict even comes around.  

Jun Cajucom, Metro Manila: Yes, but only with the assurance that the courts will be fair to all concerned  the accused, accuser and the people handling the case.  

Futile exercise

Pitts Hizon, Pampanga: No, it will just be a waste of time and money unless there is a complete overhaul of the judicial system. Mr. Lauro Vizconde will remain groping in the dark.  

Raymar Gurrea, Bacolod City: Huwag na. So much has already been read and said about the decision of the Supreme Court. It will only add more pain and heartache to Mr. Vizconde.  

Jesus Mendoza, Pangasinan: With the kind of justice and law enforcement system we have in place, reopening the Vizconde massacre case will surely get us nowhere.  

C.B. Manalastas, Manila: Reopening the Vizconde massacre case will only be an exercise in futility considering the kind of judicial system that we have.  

Ruel Bautista, Laguna: It’s useless. How can we expect the judges to do better after almost two decades of probing into the case?  

Joel Caluag, Bulacan: What for? Just to add insult to injury? Why not just vaporize those gutter rats instead?  

Ella Arenas, Pangasinan: The Supreme Court has handed its decision and I guess that’s final. What’s the use of reopening the case? It may take another 15 long years and maybe Mr. Vizconde will no longer be around to witness the reinvestigation. Nineteen years in jail is more than enough for Hubert, et al.  

Ignacio Anacta, Metro Manila: What for? If our justice system failed miserably in this celebrated Vizconde massacre case in the past 19 years, what can we expect in the next six months? Unless there is a ready script with fabricated evidence and sacrificial lambs to be presented to the public just to quench our thirst for justice.  

Alexander Raquepo, Ilocos Sur: I am for its reopening but it seems impractical for various reasons. Some of the witnesses might no longer be around, evidences might not be available anymore or have been destroyed and lots of resources, talent and time will be needed in unearthing files needed for the case.  

Jim Veneracion, Naga City: It will simply be an exercise in futility, and may take another 20 years to conclude. By then, the Vizconde patriarch would have been six feet below the ground.  

Lorenzo Fernandez Jr., Cabanatuan City: If there’s a reopening of the case, it would be “justice delayed, justice denied” for the second time for Lauro Vizconde.  

What for?

Ed Gulmatico, Abu Dhabi: For what? To rub fresh salt to the reopened and very painful wound of Mr. Lauro Vizconde?  

Ricardo Tolentino, Laoag City: No, what for?  

Rey Onate, Palayan City: What for? Konsensiya na lang. Lauro, iiyak mo na lang pero kaya mo yan. Kasama mo ako.  

Felix Ramento, USA: What for? I’m afraid our justice system is so bad that we do not know anymore what to expect of it.  

Joe Nacilla, Las Piñas City: We are all aware that justice in this life is either imperfect or altogether absent; that evil seems to thrive more than the good. Why reopen the Vizconde massacre case? Are we not satisfied with Mr. Vizconde’s agony, sleepless nights and mental anguish?  

By all means

Miguelito Herrera, Cabanatuan City: Yes, the government is duty-bound to assist Lauro Vizconde in bringing to justice the real killers in the 1991 massacre of his family or else this case will be another tragic story of an unresolved crime in our country.  

Elizabeth Oximer, Negros Occidental: By all means, yes. Calling all matitinik na criminal lawyers: Please help with this.  

Joel Cayetano, Metro Manila: I am absolutely in favor of the reopening of the Vizconde massacre case to once and for all prove who the real culprits are.  

Reynaldo Joaquin, Las Piñas City: Yes, the case must be reopened not just to appease Mang Lauro but to prove the innocence of Webb and company and define the flaws of past trials.  

William Gonzaga, Marikina City: Absolutely! Indeed, there remain so many questions that should be answered about this case.  

Pedro Alagano Sr., Vigan City: Why not, if there are new pieces of evidence to warrant the same. Otherwise, it’s only for publicity to appease Lauro Vizconde.  

Juan Deveraturda, Subic, Zambales: Definitely, the case should be reopened. And, this time, the NBI should not bungle the investigation anymore.  

Elmo Cruz, Manila: As the Supreme Court doubted the innocence of the accused, it is imperative to reopen the case to establish the truth and render justice to all concerned.  

Jose Fabello Jr., Cagayan de Oro City: I would be more than happy to see Lauro touch the hemline of Lady Justice’s dress one more time.  

A reinvestigation is in order

Ric Vergara, Calamba: A fair and just reinvestigation of the case will restore my trust and faith in our justice system.  

Jun Montebon, Parañaque City: The DOJ should reopen the case ASAP. The problem, however, is that Justice Secretary Leila de Lima is now seemingly also involved in politics.  

Louie Vallo, Pangasinan: I am in favor of a reinvestigation so that this case would have a just conclusion. However, concerned government agencies and prosecutors must do their job effectively so that what happened in the past would not be repeated. If not for the negligence of the NBI, the semen sample would have put an end to the guessing game as to whether or not Webb, et al. really committed the crime.  

Dr. Jose Balcanao, Benguet: If all legal procedures and remedies have already been exhausted, then there is no more need to reopen the case. But if the decision is in favor of only one party and it is prejudicial to the other party, then the case should be reopened.  

Let God be the judge

Richard Decena, Quezon City: No, ipasa-Diyos na lang po ni Mr. Vizconde ang mga pangyayari.  

Dennis Acop, Baguio City: To God be the glory.  

Maricel Maralit, Naga City: What for? To give Mr. Vizconde false hope? The man has suffered enough. Justice may have eluded the Vizconde family here on earth, but not in heaven.  

Lydia Reyes, Bataan: With the kind of justice system that we have, it would only be a waste of time. Let God intervene.  

Rose Leobrera, Manila: Wala na’ng mapipiga dyan, ever since Biong destroyed all evidence that could lead to the resolution of the crime. Money talks. Life is short. God is there up above, let’s just leave everything to Him.  

Ishmael Calata, Parañaque City: At this point, since the Supreme Court has already come out with a verdict, reopening the case will only go to naught. Is there any new evidence that could turn the decision around? I totally commiserate with Mr. Lauro Vizconde, who has been denied the justice he has long been seeking. But that’s how democracy works. It is hard to accept this but, at this point in time, Mr. Vizconde should try to consider to just leave this pain in the hands of God, who is all just.  

Principle of double jeopardy

Romeo Caubat, Masbate: No, because the principle of double jeopardy would now come into play.  

Tony Gomez, Parañaque City: They can only reopen the Vizconde massacre case if they have new suspects. Webb and company are out of it, or else it’s double jeopardy.  

The truth must come out

Rene Fuentes, Quezon City: Definitely, the whole truth should come out. How could the seven “wise” judges just ignore the testimonies of the maid and the guard?  

Third murder

Joan Cejes, Makati City: I’m afraid that reopening the case would become the “third murder” in the Vizconde family. Heart-breaking, as it may be, I guess it’s time for Mr. Lauro Vizconde to move on.  

It will take years

Lucas Banzon Madamba, Laguna: It would be nice to reopen the Vizconde case, but if this materializes, it may take years or so before the case can be resolved again.  

Armando Tavera, Las Piñas City: The opening of the Vizconde massacre case will surely take a very long journey. Sana buhay pa ang main protagonists if justice is finally attained.  

Manny Cordeta, Marikina City: There’s nothing wrong with the DOJ initiating the revival of the said case. No less than the most aggrieved party, the widowed Mr. Lauro Vizconde, must feel so elated. But everybody knows it will be another protracted and tedious legal process. I’ll just keep my fingers crossed as I still trust our justice system.  

A disgrace

Vivian Ocampo, Quezon City: The Supreme Court is a disgrace to the country. We will forever remember the names of the seven infamous judges who set free these rapist-murderers.  

Adrian Catral, Quezon City: Kahit mabuksan pa muli ang Vizconde massacre, hindi na mababago ang tingin ko sa ating korte.  

Deo Durante, Camarines Sur: If this case depicts the state of the justice system in this country, then P-Noy must do something. The unpopular decision of the SC in favor of the accused in the Vizconde massacre case has tarnished even more the already decaying image of our judicial system.  

Justice for the Vizcondes

Dennis Montealto, Mandaluyong City: If it’s just to drum up someone’s senatorial ambitions this early, forget it. But if it would be for the sake of giving justice to the Vizcondes, let the wheels of justice take its course.  

Rey Ibalan, Antipolo City: Yes, in order to find out, beyond reasonable doubt, who the real culprits are in the Vizconde rape-murder case; if it truly was not Hubert and company.  

Germi Sison, Cabanatuan City: I wish the case be reopened to put a closure to the nagging question as to who committed the crime and to find out how and why the prosecutors failed to establish the guilt of the accused beyond reasonable doubt and how the investigators bungled in their investigation.  

Elpidio Que, Vigan: Reopening the Vizconde massacre case is a must to give justice to the victims. It is a heinous crime that could have only happened in countries in the wild, wild West, not in ours.  

Get Webb’s co-accused

Cris Rivera, Rizal: Before reopening the Vizconde case, the DOJ must first get Webb’s co-accused Filart and Ventura, then squeeze Alfaro and Biong who coached them to frame-up Webb, et al. Does this mean that after 15 years of probes and hearings, the SC erred in acquitting Webb and his co-accused, from the rape-slay case and the DOJ can do a better investigation of the case than the SC?  

Jail Alfaro

J.R. Mondonedo Jr., Parañaque City: I have always believed, from the very beginning, that Hubert Webb is innocent due to his documents stating he was in the States at the time of the crime. Yes, the case should be reopened and Jessica Alfaro should be put to jail for perjury.  

Time to move on

Ruben Viray, Antipolo City: Time is running out for Mr. Vizconde. The reopening of the case will just go nowhere. The family of the accused and Mr. Vizconde were both victims of circumstances. Let us give them enough space to move on.  

Wrong basis

Robert Young Jr., San Juan: The SC decision to reverse the lower court’s conviction of the accused in the Vizconde massacre accused was mostly based on some inconsistencies in Jessica Alfaro’s testimony. But inconsistencies are normal considering that the trial happened five years after the murders.  

Views expressed in this section do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of The STAR. The STAR does not knowingly publish false information and may not be held liable for the views of readers exercising their right to free expression. The publication also reserves the right to edit contributions to this section as it sees fit.

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