TRUTH OUT, HEALING BEGINS. Lauro Vizconde on Thursday marks the 20th anniversary of the murders of his wife and two daughters at his residence in BF Homes, Para帽aque City. LYN RILLON
The truth is out. Let the healing begin.
This was how Lauro Vizconde鈥檚 relatives summed it up on Thursday night after a Mass marking the 20th anniversary of the death of his wife Estrellita and daughters Carmela and Jennifer.
鈥淚t is time to heal the past. And while justice seems elusive, life must go on,鈥� Vizconde鈥檚 grandniece Katherine Asuncion said, reading from a family statement.
Asuncion, 27, was a constant playmate of Jennifer Vizconde, who was 7 years old when she was killed.
On the night of June 29, 1991, Asuncion was supposed to have a sleepover with Jennifer at the latter鈥檚 home in Para帽aque City. But her parents did not allow her to go.
Nephews had posted a banner declaring 鈥淭ruth prevails 20 years after鈥� and demanding 鈥淔inal justice for the Vizconde massacre victims,鈥� in apparent reference to government probers鈥� claims that, contrary to his alibi, released murder convict Hubert Webb 鈥渘ever left鈥� the country.
Reporters jostled with Vizconde鈥檚 relatives and friends in his garage, where Fr. Francisco 鈥淜it鈥� Hernandez celebrated Mass.
Among those present were former Vice President Teofisto Guingona; Arsenio 鈥淏oy鈥� Evangelista, father of carjack victim Venson Evangelista; Dacer-Corbito witness Cezar Mancao and his lawyer Ferdinand Topacio; and members of the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC).
鈥淏e consoled that the truth will always come out,鈥� Hernandez advised Vizconde. 鈥淗owever, keep in mind not to be vindictive. Let the love of God prevail. God does not teach us to retaliate. Choose God鈥檚 endless kind of love.鈥�
Hernandez also reminded Vizconde that he now had 鈥渢hree saints in Heaven.鈥�
鈥淧ray to them. Remember that death is the ultimate equalizer. When we die, that is when we will be given the whole truth鈥� May the Lord console you in all your afflictions,鈥� The priest said.
After the Mass, VACC founding chair Dante Jimenez urged Congress to initiate impeachment proceedings against the seven Supreme Court justices who either voted to acquit Webb and coaccused or abstained from voting last December.
Early Thursday, Lauro Vizconde went to Holy Cross Memorial Park and laid bouquets of roses on the tombs of his wife and daughters.
鈥淚 told my family that I did my best. I also updated them on the new twist in the investigation. Even if we were denied justice, I consoled them that at least people already know what really happened,鈥� he said.
Vizconde said his quest for justice was continuing despite the end of the prescription period for the prosecution of his family鈥檚 killers.
鈥淭he prescription period does not matter to me, it鈥檚 just a date,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檓 still hoping for a miracle to happen. The fight is not over. I will be conferring with my lawyers about my future moves.鈥�
Under the law, prosecutors of a murder case are given 20 years from the time it occurred or the time it was discovered to identify suspects and charge them in court.
More witnesses
Vizconde is clinging to the hope that even if this period ended Thursday, more concerned citizens will approach the National Bureau of Investigation to corroborate claims made by new witnesses that Webb was seen in BF Homes, Para帽aque City, at the time of the murders.
Webb had presented the alibi that he was in the United States when the crime was committed, but he was still found guilty by the Para帽aque Regional Trial Court. He and six others spent 15 years in jail.
The men were released on Dec. 14 last year, after the Supreme Court dismissed the testimony of star witness Jessica Alfaro against Webb.
Vizconde said he was 鈥渙ptimistic about finding more witnesses.鈥�
鈥淗opefully, if they will surface, public pressure will snowball and I will finally get the justice I am looking for,鈥� he said.