Twisted justice and the Webb case

 

           

            TWISTED JUSTICE AND THE WEBB CASE: Justice in the country can be twisted to suit the interests of the rich and the powerful, and this is best demonstrated in the case of Hubert Webb who, with several others, were sentenced to life imprisonment for their supposed participation in the Vizconde Massacre several years ago, even if Hubert himself was innocent.

 

            This is according to Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, who spoke on his thoughts about the grisly murders which claimed the lives of a mother and her two daughters at a time when the father of the family was abroad trying to earn a living, during the joint meeting Thursday, October 28, 2010, of the Rotary Club of Intramuros and four other clubs under Rotary International District 3810.

 

            Lim said he was the director of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) when the killings took place. He had the occasion to  personally direct the inquiry into the killings, after relatives of the slain mother from Bulacan came to him and sought his help.

 

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            WEBB INNOCENT, MAYBE SET FREE BY SC: The NBI investigations showed Webb to be innocent of the Vizconde accusations, Lim said. He confirmed that the NBI obtained official confirmation from the US Embassy in Manila that Webb was indeed in the United States at a time when the murders took place.

 

            “How could Hubert be involved in the case when US authorities confirmed that at the time of the killings he was there in the US mainland?” queried Lim, who said he believes the Supreme Court will ultimately set Webb free, especially because the NBI under a new director lost the DNA profile which would prove---or disprove---that he raped one of the Vizcondes.

 

            There is now a reasonable doubt on the guilt of Hubert Webb, Lim told Rotarians who were all in rapt attention as he was talking. Lim said the supposed prosecutor star witness, Jessica Alfaro, lied in her testimony, as confirmed by two Vizconde maids who refuted all of Alfaro’s claims about the case.

 

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            EVIDENCE OF INNOCENCE NOT CREDITED BY COURT: It was just unfortunate for Webb that events conspired against him, especially with the formation of an anti-crime group whose leaders, Lim said, were only hungry for publicity for personal interests and who had no shame parading themselves as crime experts on the basis merely of their volunteering to fight against crime and corruption.

 

            It was also unfortunate, the mayor added, that the evidence submitted by the National Bureau of Investigation proving Webb’s innocence were simply brushed aside by the court which tried the case, despite its compelling nature.

 

            Lim acknowledged the cooperation extended by then Sen. Freddie Webb to the NBI investigations, to the extent that the former lawmaker even volunteered to bring Hubert back from the US so he could face the case righ away, but the mayor said it was him (Lim) who said it was not necessary for the young Webb to return then.

 

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LIFE’S INSPIRATIONS: " 'Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly…”(Leviticus 19:15, the Holy Bible).

 

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Binaluktot na katarungan at si Hubert Webb

 

           

            BINALUKTOT NA KATARUNGAN AT ANG KASO NI WEBB: Ang katarungan sa bansa ay nababaluktot upang maitampok ang interest ng mga mayayaman at makapangyarihan, at ito ay kitang-kita sa kaso ni Hubert Webb na sinentensiyahan, kasama ang iba pa, ng habambuhay na pagkakabilanggo dahil diumano sa kanilang partisipasyon sa Vizconde Massacre, bagamat si Hubert mismo ay walang kasalanan.

 

            Ito ay ayon kay Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, na tumalakay sa kanyang mga pananaw ukol sa krimen na naging dahilan ng kamatayan ng isang ina at ng kanyang dalawang anak na babae, sa panahong ang padre de pamilya nila ay nasa ibang bansa at nagsusumikap maghanap-buhay. Nagsalita si Lim bilang panauhin sa joint meeting noong Huwebes, Oktubre 28, 2010, ng Rotary Club of Intramuros, at iba pang clubs sa Rotary International District 3810.

 

            Ayon kay Lim, siya ang director ng National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) noong maganap ang Vizconde Massacre. Pinangunahan niya ang imbestigasyon ng kaso matapos dumulog sa kanya ang mga kamag-anak ng nanay na napatay.

 

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            WEBB WALANG SALA, MAAARING PALAYAIN NG SC: Ipinakita ng mga pagsisiyasat ng NBI na inosente si Webb at walang kinalaman sa mga bintang sa Vizconde, pagliliwanag ni Lim. Kinumpirma niyang nakakuha ang NBI ng opisyal na kumpirmasyon mula sa US Embassy sa Manila na si Webb ay tunay na nasa United States noong maganap ang Vizconde killings.

 

            “Papaano namang isasama si Hubert sa kaso gayong kumpirmado ng mga autoridad sa Amerika na noong mangyari ang mga pagpatay, nasa US mainland siya?” tanong ni Lim, na nagsabi ding naniniwala siyang ipapawalang-sala ng Korte Suprema si Lim at ito ay palalayain, lalo na at ang DNA profile sa kaso ay nawala sa panahon ng isang dating NBI director, gayong mahalaga ito sa pagpapatunay ng krimen.

 

            Mayroon ngayong malaking duda sa pagkakasangkot ni Hubert Webb, sabi ni Lim sa harap ng mga Rotarians. Ayon  din sa alkalde, ang sinasabing prosecution star witness, si Jessica Alfaro, ay nagsinungaling, at kinumpirma ang pagsisinungaling niyang ito ng dalawang katulong ng mga Vizconde na tumestigo din.

 

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            KATIBAYANG PABOR KAY WEBB, BINALEWALA NG HUKUMAN: Nakakalungkot lamang at tila pinagtulungan ng mga pangyayari si Webb, lalo na noong maitayo ang isang grupong umaastang kontra sa krimen at korapsiyon na ang mga lider, ayon kay Lim, ay nagnais lamang na magkaroon ng publicity para sa kanilang mga personal na interest, at nagkunwaring mga eksperto sa krimen.

 

            Nakakalungkot din, dagdag pa ng mayor, na ang mga matitinding ebidensiyang isinumite ng National Bureau of Investigation na nagpapatunay ng kawalan ng kasalanan ni Webb ay di man lamang pinahalagahan ng hukuman.

 

            Kinilala din ni Lim ang kooperasyong ibinigay ni dating Sen. Freddie Webb sa mga pagkilos ng NBI, kasama na ang pagkukusang-loob ng dating senador na agad pabalikin si Hubert mula sa Amerika upang harapin ang kaso, pero si Lim na din mismo ang nagsabing hindi na kailangan pang bumalik si Webb.

 

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INSPIRASYON SA BUHAY: “ `Huwag mong babaluktutin ang katarungan; huwag kang magpapakita ng pagkiling sa mga mahihirap o paboritismo sa mga mayayaman, kundi husgahan mo ang iyong kapwa ng may katarungan…” (Leviticus 19:15, Bibliya).

 

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