It's really ANNOYING how some people (UNTIL NOW) still feel that Hubert Webb is guilty even after the PROOF of his innocence came out. Last 2011, a major discovery hit that Hubert WAS INNOCENT all along from the incident that happened on June 30, 1991. Hubert also appeared during the premiere of Give Up Tomorrow - a documentary that featured how Paco Larranaga (along with six others) got wrongfully accused of the deaths of the Chiong Sisters together with the inconsistencies. This is best called by the late Carlos Celdran as trial by teleserye. Celdran also appeared in the premiere of the said documentary. A documentary will always be MORE RELIABLE than a film where artistic liberties are taken. I decided to write this because in 1991 (that would be around 20 years ago) - a horrible crime happened and it was the Vizconde Massacre. The Vizconde Massacre can't be denied that it happened. The family of the late Lauro Vizconde was obviously murdered. However, in the midst of that murder came a trial by publicity which some of them were actually INNOCENT. There was also a fake star witness named Jessica Alfaro who only appeared in 1995 - four years after the bloody incident. Like Davidson Rusia, Jessica was full of inconsistencies and may have also been tortured into telling a lie.
Like Paco, Hubert was actually NOT in the area of the crime when it happened. I'm amazed at all the toxic Youtube comments. I don't blame some people who no longer allow comments on their pages. Sometimes, it's not because they can't take criticism but it's because of the unnecessary destructive criticism when it comes to a sensitive issue. Larranaga himself was in Quezon City in Manila when the crime happened in Cebu City. Hubert was even in a FARTHER place namely the United States of America. Webb was already an independent guy, had a nice job in America, and then his life was wasted over a crime that HE NEVER COMMITTED. Some can argue that he took off a flight, did the crime, then went to America as if it never happened. Hmmm... that reminds me of the argument done by Winnie Solitas-Monsod in Give Up Tomorrow about the stupid assumption of the late Judge Ocampo. I don't agree with Mareng Winnie about her anti-reform stance. However, Mareng Winnie was RIGHT when it came to the late judge who later ended his life.
However, the movie came called The Vizconde Massacre Story which also starred Kris Aquino as the late Carmela Vizconde. It was aired DURING THE TRIAL - two years after the crime happened. Where's the right of the accused to be assumed innocent until proven guilty? For one, a crime CAN HAPPEN and you may have arrested the wrong people. It's like what happened to Benjamin Spencer who sadly spent three decades in jail over the claims of some "star witness". I may be no lawyer or legal expert. However, I can really say that the American justice system sucks. The Philippine justice system sucks. There were tons of evidence that proved Webb was in America during the time of the crime. Yet, the "star witness" Jessica said otherwise with two maids who said they allegedly washed a bloody laundry. Yet, evidence from America proved that Hubert couldn't be in two places at the same time. Such an incident caused the loss of Freddie Webb in the elections. Worse, Hubert could've been executed over a crime that he NEVER DID.
Get Real Philippines' article on the Vizconde Massacre made me think about another possible stupidity that happened DURING the trial:
The Philippine media for their part, never fail to sensationalize the news and conduct a trial-by-media just to fatten the bottom line of their CEO’s report. Whether it is about Hubert Webb or former President Gloria Arroyo, you cannot rely on the Philippine media to give a balanced view. Where else but in the Philippines is a movie made out of a case while the trial is still on-going? It’s safe to assume that most Filipinos who were old enough to care in 1991 know more about the details of the Vizconde massacre from the movie The Vizconde Massacre Story (God Help Us!). I wouldn’t even be surprised if the judge in Hubert Webb’s case based her decision on the movie. Hello! The crime was committed in 1991, the movie made in 1993, and star witness Jessica Alfaro emerged in 1995!
Just thinking about it - why in the world was it even permitted to screen the movie in the first place? It reminded me of how VIVA Films has some really biased biopics. Again, evidence was abundant that Hubert was in America. Hubert was still on trial and the assumption is that he or he may not yet be guilty. People can get dragged the long way. I think some of the people who got arrested were indeed guilty. However, Webb's innocence is clear as day with all the evidence. Yet, the movie was screened and Kris had what I'd call her "best performance" when her character was massacred in the film. Years later, VIVA Films also released The Flor Contemplacion Story. The evidence against Flor after her trial in Singapore from 1991 and she was executed in 1995. The film won awards in the Philippines and the Cairo International Film Festival. The irony was that VIVA Films released a film that assumed Hubert was guilty without proof and made an executed convict look innocent in spite of proof. I even want to think that maybe Ilda is right in her assumption that Judge Amelita Tolentino used the movie as "evidence".
This is really sad thinking Lauro himself died without knowing the full truth. All he knew was that his family was dead. Lauro ended up believing the lies of "star witness" Jessica who we know ruined the life of Hubert. Jessica should spend 15 or more years in jail or even LIFE IMPRISONMENT if you ask me. The incompetence of Tolentino was highlighted when she refused to honor Hubert's right to defend himself. Hubert requested a DNA test but the judge dismissed it. Any good judge would decide to see if the accused were indeed guilty. Instead, Tolentino decided to assume them all guilty of the crime without considering the possibility that they may have caught the wrong people. Did she even consider that a crime can happen, the guilty people ran off somewhere, and that the wrong people were arrested in their place?
We can also think about the rich shaming done against Hubert himself. Just because Hubert was good-looking and wealthy doesn't make one a crook. Just because somebody is ugly and poor doesn't mean one is automatically innocent. Innocence or guilty has NOTHING to do with being rich, wealthy, poor, or ugly but with the actions. A rich and good-looking crook can also be served by poor and ugly minions - all of them deserve some form of punishment. Hubert was simply shamed by a nation that tends to punish achievement. Hubert was doing well in America and they ruined his life based on GOSSIP. Seriously, are they still proud of what they did?
This really shows that the Philippines is anything but the "best country in the world". The justice system is really broken to the core. Watching through Give Up Tomorrow and the Vizconde Massacre DOCUMENTARYwill really give light. This should really be a wake-up call.
Comments
Post a Comment