NBI open to reinvestigation of Vizconde case

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is not closing its doors on a possible reinvestigation on the Vizconde massacre case following the Supreme Court’s acquittal of the seven people, including a senator’s son, who were initially convicted for the crime. NBI spokesman Cecilio Zamora, however, said they must see first the Supreme Court decision before taking any steps regarding the highly celebrated case. "We want to see first the decision of the SC. We are still waiting for the copy. And once we have studied it, that’s the only time we will be able to make a statement, and what steps we would have to make. Whether there is need for us to conduct reinvestigation or not," he said on Tuesday. It was the NBI that filed the case against Hubert Webb, son of former Senator Freddie Webb, and six others for the murder of Estrellita Vizconde and daughters Carmela and Jennifer on June 30, 1991.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday acquitted the seven "for the failure of the prosecution to rule their guilt beyond reasonable doubt." "They are ordered released from detention unless for another lawful cause," said Court administrator Jose Midas Marquez, adding that the high tribunal's decision was immediately executory. The court also said the case's so-called star witness, Jessica Alfaro, was "an NBI agent and not really an eyewitness." NBI deputy director for technical services Reynaldo Esmeralda, one of the NBI agents whom the Webb family wants to be cited in contempt by the court, denied the defense's claim that he "coached" Alfaro to pin down Webb and his co-accused. "I only became the Deputy Director for Technical Services last year. It is unfair to slap us with motions to cite us in contempt at the SC," he said. Webb's camp said Esmeralda, NBI director Magtanggol Gatdula, and three other NBI officials should be cited in contempt for losing a vital piece of evidence — Webb's semen sample — that could’ve proven Webb’s innocence. Carmela, who was 18 years old at the time of the crime, was raped before being stabbed to death. - KBK, GMANews.TV