SC acquits Hubert Webb, 6 others in Vizconde massacre

SOPHIA DEDACE, GMANews.TV

Hubert Webb, son of a former senator and six others were acquitted in the case of the massacre vizconde on Tuesday.

In a vote of 7-4-4 on Tuesday, the Supreme Court (SC) reversed two lower courts found "that found him and eight others guilty of killing three family members vizconde nearly two decades ago.

While nine people may have been charged in the case, the court took action in only seven of them. This is because the other two, Artemio Ventura and Joey Filart remain at large today.

According to spokesman Jose Midas Marquez SC, the court acquitted seven "for the failure of the process of governing his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt," said Marques.

"They are ordered released unless for other lawful cause," said Marques.

In addition to Webb, those acquitted were:

•  Antonio lejano;
•  Michael Gatchalian;
•  Miguel Rodriguez;
•  Hospice Fernandez;
•  Pedro Road, and
•  Ex-policeman Gerardo Biong.

The ministers who voted for acquittal were:

•  Associate Justices Roberto Abad;
• Conchita Carpio Morales ;
• Diosdado Peralta ;
•  Lucas Bersamin;
•  Jose Perez, and
•  Ma Lourdes Sereno.

Those who disagreed were:

• Chief Justice Renato Corona;
• Associate Justice Martin Villarama ;
• Teresita Leonardo de Castro, and
• Arturo Brion.

Those who did not participate in the deliberations were:

•  Associate Justice Antonio Carpio;
•  Mariano del Castillo;
•  Eduardo Nachura, and
•  Velasco Presbyter.

Webb was accused of raping vizconde Carmela, 18, who was killed in her family home in Parañaque June 30, 1991. His mother, Estrellita, 47, and sister, Jennifer, 7, were also killed.

Webb was one of nine people convicted of Paranaque Regional Trial Court Branch 274 Judge Amelita Tolentino in January 2000 for the murders. The Court of Appeals upheld the conviction in December 2005.

Tolentino is now a senior judge of the Court of Appeals.

Webb then elevated the case to the Supreme Court and asked for a DNA analysis is performed on a sample of semen or vaginal swabs taken from the victim's body vizconde Carmela.