Witness stands by testimony in Vizconde case

MANILA, Philippines - The star witness in the Vizconde massacre case maintains that her testimony and other pieces of evidence proving the guilt of those convicted in the case are strong.

“The evidence against Hubert (Webb) is strong because I’m an eyewitness” to what happened on the night of June 29, 1991, she said in Filipino in a text message sent to Lauro Vizconde from abroad.

She also said there were other witnesses, such as the Webbs’ former maid, Mila Gaviola, and two security guards.

“Gaviola testified that she washed Hubert’s bloody shirt the morning after the massacre. Two subdivision security guards testified that they saw Hubert on the night of the massacre going through the entrance gate of the subdivision where Lauro Vizconde lived,” Alfaro said.

Alfaro also discredited Webb’s excuse that he was in the United States during the time of the murder, saying that he went abroad five months after the crime. Webb’s family claimed he left the country in March 1991 and went home October of the same year.

Vizconde told ABS-CBN that he and Alfaro remain in constant communication over the case.

In 2000, Webb, Peter Estrada, Hospicio Fernandez, Michael Gatchalian, Antonio Lejano II and Miguel Rodriguez were sentenced to life imprisonment for killing Lauro’s wife, Estrelita; and his daughters, Carmela and Jennifer Vizconde.

Gerardo Biong, a former policeman, was convicted for destroying evidence in the case. He was released last Nov. 30 after serving a 12-year sentence.