De Lima: New breakthrough in Vizconde case review

MANILA, Philippines - Justice Secretary Leila de Lima hinted yesterday at a “second breakthrough” in the multi-agency reinvestigation of the Vizconde massacre in 1991 following a Supreme Court (SC) ruling in December last year acquitting Hubert Webb and several others who were previously convicted for the crime.

She said she met with officials of the Philippine National Police’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG), who informed her of a “crucial angle” in the resolution of the two-decade-old case.

“A witness agreed to undergo polygraph test,” she said. “Again, I cannot yet disclose details pending full validation of the facts.”

De Lima admitted the CIDG and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) are pursuing separate reinvestigations and that she told the two agencies to coordinate with each other.

De Lima earlier clarified that Webb’s group is still covered by the reinvestigation, which covers all possible angles and at least four groups of suspects, despite their acquittal by the SC. Last March, Webb submitted to the NBI for examination his passport, which he presented as proof that he was in the US when the crime happened.

The justice secretary revealed yesterday that the number of suspects have been “trimmed down,” but refused to say if Webb’s group is still on the list.

According to earlier reports, the NBI has traced in the US Joey Filart, one of two other accused who remained in hiding since Webb and the others were convicted for rape with homicide in January 2000. The other one is Artemio Ventura.

The STAR exclusively reported the claim of a woman dubbed as “Ms. X” based on an investigation conducted by Christian Faust, a veteran criminologist from Australia, that her former husband and his friends were involved in the massacre.

The DOJ has only until June 29 to file new charges in connection with the massacre, considering the prescription period under rules on criminal procedure for filing of cases within 20 years after the commission of a crime.

De Lima said they are confident the reinvestigation would be concluded soon and possible new charges could be filed before the prescription period lapses.