DOJ chief to meet new witnesses in Vizconde massacre

MANILA, Philippines - Secretary Leila de Lima said yesterday she will meet the new witnesses in Department of Justice (DOJ) reinvestigation of the Vizconde massacre case some 20 years ago before releasing a report that could bring up new charges next week.

In a press conference, she said she will personally ask clarificatory questions of the witnesses of DOJ’s task force in their final meeting tomorrow.

“They have submitted already their respective statements with the (National Bureau of Investigation), but I told NBI to summon all of them just so we can clarify all information we got,” she explained.

De Lima said those summoned are “mostly witnesses,” hinting that there are also those who could be considered suspects, but refused to name them.

She said a credible new witness, “Ms. X,” passed the polygraph test and had pointed to the new suspects. Ms. X claimed her former husband and his friends were involved in the massacre.

Several other witnesses who also passed polygraph test had also corroborated the testimony of the new witness.

De Lima said they will conclude the new probe before June 29, when the crime reaches its 20-year prescription period.

She said the task force is zeroing in on a new set of suspects “who are now already being hunted down.” She said not all those previously convicted of the crime “is off the hook.”

Earlier this month, she confirmed that the passport presented in Hubert Webb’s defense was genuine, but investigators have yet to confirm if it was indeed Webb who used the passport to go to the United States. Webb maintains that he was in the US when the massacre occurred.