The Vizconde Massacre Case Weaponized Grief Via Trial by Publicity

GMA-7

We have to admit that due process isn't about procrastination but about avoiding jumping to conclusions, while doing something in the process. There's the principle of due process that says that both sides must be heard, that every suspect has the right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty. Back in the day, I had this judgmental behavior that says, "If it's a criminal, off the go! Due process is cowardice!" I would always raise the late Lauro Vizconde how he left this world with no justice. However, the reality is that Lauro left the world not knowing who murdered his wife and two daughters before dying. There was no justice for him and the other extended members of his clan. This is the sad fact. What's even sadder is that Lauro's death on February 16, 2016, has the reality that the murderers were never found. For all we know, the murderers may have discreetly left the country before the 1995 trial. 

When does grief become the "perfect shield" for the narrative?

There are no questions asked that Lauro himself was struck with grief. Grief is a real thing. Lauro arrived from the USA in the Philippines, excited to see his family, only to realize that his wife Estrellita and his two daughters, Carmela and Jennifer, had died so soon. It was on June 30, 1991, when the crime happened. Today, it would be the 35th year since the shocking tragedy inside BF Homes Parañaque had happened. I remember how children were told not to let any random people enter the home, especially during the night. I remember having feelings of unease, especially when VIVA Films released the movie The Vizconde Massacre Story, which starred Kristine Bernadette "Kris" C. Aquino as Carmela. The movie sold tickets. Honestly, it didn't help that VIVA Films would later release another movie, which suggested that Estrellita supposedly had a lover. The movie The Jessica Alfaro Story was later released. I wonder if I should watch those films to continue my critique?

The grief was weaponized throughout the case as well. Who can remember the time when retired judge Amelita G. Tolentino, who's currently 80+ years old and off the radar for some reason, ran the whole case? Lauro was in court, weeping for years. It was also in 1995 when names started popping out. From what I heard, the star suspect, Hubert Jeffry P. Webb, was a known troublemaker. Others who were identified were Antonio "Tony Boy" Lejano, Michael Gatchalian, Hospicio "Joey" Fernandez, Miguel Rodriguez, and Peter Estrada. Right now, both Artemio "Dong" Ventura and Joey Filart managed to escape, and they were also identified. The people probably rejoiced the moment when the star witness Jessica, was revealed. The names showed up and were probably hated by the public for having a bad reputation. Maybe it was like "It was those entitled rich bad boys who did it. No surprise." reaction from the public.

As I was only in elementary school at the time of the crime, I found myself unable to process things as they happened. I could only say that the moment Jessica showed up, emotions crippled the public sensido common or public common sense. Instead, the whole narration ended up asking questions like, "I wonder what Jessica will have to say?" Several newspapers covered the Vizconde Massacre story like an ongoing drama series in print. The TV news covered the Vizconde Massacre. After all, it was a brutal case. However, the real mistake was that the wrong people were arrested. It ends up as that the people ended up caring more about, "Did they really do the crime? What if it were someone else?" Instead, people cared more about hearing, "How did Hubert do the crime?" It didn't matter how preposterous the Jessica Alfaro narrative was. All that people cared about was hearing details of how the crime happened than whether or not the suspects were the ones who did the crime. 

The Court of Public Opinion tends to play the game of false dilemma. When it came to Hubert's innocence, it was easy to weaponize Lauro's grief. Hubert and his co-accused may have been prejudged by the public. It would be easy to say, "If you believe Hubert was innocent, then you're not sympathizing with Lauro Vizconde," or "If you believe Hubert was innocent, you must love rapists and murders. Let's see if your loved ones are next." I rode on the Court of Public Opinion more than once back then. People didn't want to look left out. After all, wasn't Lauro already in a state of grief? It was the perfect weapon especially when people want easy answers. 

The domino effect leading to extreme grief towards the justice seeker

What happened in 2010 showed the effects of a man's false hope being destroyed. Lauro believed he acquired justice when Tolentino pounded the gavel and declared that they were probably fictitious names used for a narrative effect. Just reading this made me get mad at the justice system, and even realizing Hubert Jeffry P. Webb was the wrong person caught along with the other co-accused can make one's blood boil. Giving a grieving man a sense of false security only for it to crash down. 

Here's something from GMA News:

A separate report by dzBB's Cecilia Villarosa quoted the Webbs' lawyer Demetrio Custodio as saying they will now concentrate on Hubert's release. Lauro's greatest fear. Meanwhile, Lauro said his greatest fear has come true that Hubert and the other convicts in the massacre case would be acquitted. Barely able to talk while inside his home, a sobbing Vizconde - being pacified by his relatives - expressed his outrage over the SC decision absolving seven convicts due to "inconsistencies" in witness testimonies. "Nangyari na ang aking kinatatakutan... Wala na kong panawagan... Wala nang katarungan dito sa ating bansa," said Vizconde, who fainted briefly while talking to reporters and had to be seated. Vizconde's wife Estrellita Vizconde, 47, and their daughters Carmela, 18, and Jennifer, 7, were killed in their Parañaque home on June 30, 1991. A Parañaque court basing its ruling mainly on Alfaro's testimony convicted seven individuals in the case, including Hubert. "Paano ninyo maipaliliwanag iyon [pagpatay sa kanila] ng mga huwes? Ewan ko kung matutulungan niyo pa ako matapos niyong ibasura iyan," the widower said. "Paano pa ang tiwala sa hukuman? Kahit sa mababang kapulungan, eh nababayaran lang," Vizconde added. Like Vizconde, Dante Jimenez, chairman of the Volunteer Against Crime and Corruption, was almost speechless when asked for his reaction on the SC decision. Vizconde joined the VACC ever since the crime happened. A radio dzBB report said relatives of the Vizcondes and supporters held a prayer vigil on Monday night, hoping that the high court would dismiss Webb camp's motion to be acquitted. The SC was supposed to have deliberated on the matter several weeks back, but the justices deferred making a ruling and asked for "more time.", GMANews.TV

Note: If you can't understand Tagalog, let me give you a few translations:

• "Nangyari na ang aking kinatatakutan... Wala na kong panawagan... Wala nang katarungan dito sa ating bansa," means "What I feared already happened. I have no one to call for help. There's no more justice in this country."
• "Paano ninyo maipaliliwanag iyon [pagpatay sa kanila] ng mga huwes? Ewan ko kung matutulungan niyo pa ako matapos niyong ibasura iyan," means "How are we going to explain the murders to the judges? I don't know if anyone can help me after the case was dumped."
• "Paano pa ang tiwala sa hukuman? Kahit sa mababang kapulungan, eh nababayaran lang," means "How can we trust the judges? Even in the lower courts, they could be bribed!"

We have a family that's relieved that after 15 years of wasted life, their loved ones are released because it was proven that they weren't the ones who committed the crime. However, the Vizcondes and their associates didn't get relief. They probably had the sense of relief that someone was found and convicted. Lauro felt grateful for Jessica Alfaro's testimony. Of course, we need to understand that Lauro isn't a criminologist. Right now, I'm writing as a non-criminologist. I even had to talk with lawyer friends about the case. However, I felt the Vizcondes and their associates breaking away into tears over the rightful reversal of Hubert and his co-accused was almost a necessary price to pay. Facts don't care about feelings. Sure, I sympathize with the friends of Lauro Vizconde and his direct family. However, I also sympathize with the wrongfully accused who got tied to a crime that they never committed. 

It's sad to know that the relief Lauro Vizconde had until 2010 was based on a lie. Nobody should be made to have a sense of relief based on a lie. It's because when the lie collapses, the pain would become unbearable, like we saw with Lauro. The Webbs may have gotten justice alongside the other falsely accused, but 15 years were wasted. As for Lauro, he grew old without knowing the real truth.