EN BANC

ANTONIO LEJANO, G.R. Nn. 176389

Iolilionoi,
Iiosonl:

CORONA, ,
CARIIO,
CARIIO MORALLS,
VLLASCO, }R,
NACHURA,
LLONARDO-DL CASTRO,
- voisus - RION,
ILRALTA,
LRSAMIN,
DLL CASTILLO,
AAD,
VILLARAMA, }R,
ILRLZ,
MLNDOZA, and
SLRLNO,
!EO!LE OF THE !HILI!!INE5,
Rospondonl

x --------------------------------------------- x

!EO!LE OF THE !HILI!!INE5, G.R. Nn. 176864
AppoIIoo,

- voisus -

HUBERT JEFFREY !. WEBB,
ANTONIO LEJANO, MICHAEL
A. GATCHALIAN, HO5!ICIO
FERNANDEZ, MIGUEL RODRIGUEZ,
!ETER E5TRADA and GERARDO IionuIgalod:
BIONG,
AppoIIanls Doconloi 14, 2O1O
x ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- x

$

ABAD, :

BrIcf Backgrnund

On }uno 3O, 1991 LslioIIila Vizcondo and hoi daughlois CainoIa, ninoloon yoais oId, and }onnifoi,
sovon, voio liulaIIy sIain al lhoii hono in Iaiaaquo Cily IoIIoving an inlonso invosligalion, lho poIico
aiioslod a gioup of suspocls, sono of vhon gavo dolaiIod confossions ul lho liiaI couil snoIIod a
fiano-up and ovonluaIIy oidoiod lhon dischaigod Thus, lho idonlilios of lho ioaI poipolialois ionainod
a nysloiy ospociaIIy lo lho pulIic vhoso inloiosls voio aiousod ly lho giipping dolaiIs of vhal
ovoiylody iofoiiod lo as lho Vizcondo nassacio

Ioui yoais Ialoi in 1995, lho NalionaI uioau of Invosligalion oi NI announcod lhal il had
soIvod lho ciino Il piosonlod slai-vilnoss }ossica M AIfaio, ono of ils infoinois, vho cIainod lhal sho
vilnossod lho ciino Sho poinlod lo accusod Huloil }offioy I Woll, Anlonio Tony oy Lojano,
Ailonio Dong Vonluia, MichaoI A CalchaIian, Hospicio Iyko Ioinandoz, Ioloi Lsliada, MiguoI
Cing Rodiiguoz, and }ooy IiIail as lho cuIpiils Sho aIso laggod accusod poIico officoi, Coiaido iong,
as an accossoiy afloi lho facl RoIying piinaiiIy on AIfaio's loslinony, on Augusl 1O, 1995 lho pulIic
piosoculois fiIod an infoinalion foi iapo vilh honicido againsl Woll, c| a|
1j


Tho RogionaI TiiaI Couil of Iaiaaquo Cily, ianch 274, piosidod ovoi ly }udgo AnoIila C
ToIonlino, liiod onIy sovon of lho accusod sinco Ailonio Vonluia and }ooy IiIail ionainod al Iaigo
2j
Tho
piosoculion piosonlod AIfaio as ils nain vilnoss vilh lho olhois coiioloialing hoi loslinony Thoso
incIudod lho nodico-IogaI officoi vho aulopsiod lho lodios of lho viclins, lho socuiily guaids of Iilong
Daan Suldivision, lho foinoi Iaundiyvonan of lho Wolls housohoId, poIico officoi iongs foinoi
giiIfiiond, and Lauio C Vizcondo, LslioIIilas husland

Ioi lhoii pail, sono of lho accusod loslifiod, donying any pail in lho ciino and saying lhoy voio
oIsovhoio vhon il look pIaco Wolls aIili appoaiod lho sliongosl sinco ho cIainod lhal ho vas lhon
acioss lho ocoan in lho Unilod Slalos of Anoiica Ho piosonlod lho loslinonios of vilnossos as voII as
docunonlaiy and oljocl ovidonco lo piovo lhis In addilion, lho dofonso piosonlod vilnossos lo shov
AIfaio's lad iopulalion foi liulh and lho inciodilIo naluio of hoi loslinony

ul inpiossod ly AIfaios dolaiIod naiialion of lho ciino and lho ovonls suiiounding il, lho liiaI
couil found a ciodilIo vilnoss in hoi Il nolod hoi calogoiicaI, sliaighlfoivaid, sponlanoous, and fiank
loslinony, undanagod ly giuoIing cioss-oxaninalions Tho liiaI couil ionainod unfazod ly significanl
disciopancios lolvoon AIfaios ApiiI 28 and May 22, 1995 affidavils, accopling hoi oxpIanalion lhal sho al
fiisl vanlod lo piolocl hoi foinoi loyfiiond, accusod Lsliada, and a ioIalivo, accusod CalchaIian, lhal no
Iavyoi assislod hoi, lhal sho did nol liusl lho invosligalois vho hoIpod hoi piopaio hoi fiisl affidavil, and
lhal sho foIl unsuio if sho vouId gol lho suppoil and socuiily sho noodod onco sho discIosod aII aloul lho
Vizcondo kiIIings

In conliasl, lho liiaI couil lhoughl IillIo of lho doniaIs and aIilis lhal Woll, Lojano, Rodiiguoz,
and CalchaIian sol up foi lhoii dofonso Thoy paIod, accoiding lo lho couil, conpaiod lo AIfaios
loslinony lhal olhoi vilnossos and lho physicaI ovidonco coiioloialod Thus, on }anuaiy 4, 2OOO, afloi
foui yoais of aiduous hoaiings, lho liiaI couil iondoiod judgnonl, finding aII lho accusod guiIly as
chaigod and inposing on Woll, Lojano, CalchaIian, Ioinandoz, Lsliada, and Rodiiguoz lho ponaIly of
iocIusion poipolua and on iong, an indoloininalo piison loin of oIovon yoais, foui nonlhs, and ono day
lo lvoIvo yoais Tho liiaI couil aIso avaidod danagos lo Lauio Vizcondo
3j


On appoaI, lho Couil of AppoaIs affiinod lho liiaI couils docision, nodifying lho ponaIly
inposod on iong lo six yoais nininun and lvoIvo yoais naxinun and incioasing lho avaid of
danagos lo Lauio Vizcondo
4j
Tho appoIIalo couil did nol agioo lhal lho accusod voio liiod ly pulIicily
oi lhal lho liiaI judgo vas liasod Il found sufficionl ovidonco of conspiiacy lhal iondoiod Rodiiguoz,
CalchaIian, Ioinandoz, and Lsliada oquaIIy guiIly vilh lhoso vho had a pail in iaping and kiIIing
CainoIa and in oxoculing hoi nolhoi and sisloi

On nolion foi ioconsidoialion ly lho accusod, lho Couil of AppoaIs' SpociaI Division of fivo
nonlois volod lhioo againsl lvo lo dony lho nolion,
5j
honco, lho piosonl appoaI

On ApiiI 2O, 2O1O, as a iosuIl of ils iniliaI doIiloialion in lhis caso, lho Couil issuod a RosoIulion
gianling lho ioquosl of Woll lo sulnil foi DNA anaIysis lho sonon spocinon lakon fion CainoIas
cadavoi, vhich spocinon vas lhon loIiovod sliII undoi lho safokooping of lho NI Tho Couil gianlod lho
ioquosl puisuanl lo soclion 4 of lho RuIo on DNA Lvidonco
j
lo givo lho accusod and lho piosoculion
accoss lo scionlific ovidonco lhal lhoy nighl vanl lo avaiI lhonsoIvos of, Ioading lo a coiiocl docision in
lho caso

UnfoilunaloIy, on ApiiI 27, 2O1O lho NI infoinod lho Couil lhal il no Iongoi has cuslody of lho
spocinon, lho sano having loon luinod ovoi lo lho liiaI couil Tho liiaI iocoid shovs, hovovoi, lhal lho
spocinon vas nol anong lho oljocl ovidonco lhal lho piosoculion offoiod in ovidonco in lho caso

This oulcono pionplod accusod Woll lo fiIo an uigonl nolion lo acquil on lho giound lhal lho
govoinnonls faiIuio lo piosoivo such vilaI ovidonco has iosuIlod in lho doniaI of his iighl lo duo piocoss

Issucs !rcscntcd

Accusod Wolls nolion lo acquil piosonls a lhioshoId issuo: vholhoi oi nol lho Couil shouId
acquil hin ouliighl, givon lho govoinnonls faiIuio lo pioduco lho sonon spocinon lhal lho NI found
on CainoIas cadavoi, lhus dopiiving hin of ovidonco lhal vouId piovo his innoconco

In lho nain, aII lho accusod iaiso lho conliaI issuo of vholhoi oi nol Woll, acling in conspiiacy
vilh Lojano, CalchaIian, Ioinandoz, Lsliada, Rodiiguoz, Vonluia, and IiIail, iapod and kiIIod CainoIa
and pul lo doalh hoi nolhoi and sisloi ul, uIlinaloIy, lho conlioIIing issuos aio:

1 Wholhoi oi nol AIfaios loslinony as oyovilnoss, dosciiling lho ciino and idonlifying
Woll, Lojano, CalchaIian, Ioinandoz, Lsliada, Rodiiguoz, and lvo olhois as lho poisons vho connillod
il, is onlilIod lo loIiof, and

2 Wholhoi oi nol Woll piosonlod sufficionl ovidonco lo piovo his aIili and iolul AIfaios
loslinony lhal ho Iod lho olhois in connilling lho ciino

Tho issuo iospocling accusod iong is vholhoi oi nol ho aclod lo covoi up lho ciino afloi ils
connission

Thc RIght tn AcquItta!
Duc tn Lnss nf DNA EvIdcncc

Woll cIains, ciling 8radq t. Marq|and,
7j
lhal ho is onlilIod lo ouliighl acquillaI on lho giound of
vioIalion of his iighl lo duo piocoss givon lho Slalos faiIuio lo pioduco on oidoi of lho Couil oilhoi ly
nogIigonco oi viIIfuI suppiossion lho sonon spocinon lakon fion CainoIa

Tho nodicaI ovidonco cIoaiIy oslalIishod lhal CainoIa vas iapod and, consislonl vilh lhis,
sonon spocinon vas found in hoi Il is liuo lhal AIfaio idonlifiod Woll in hoi loslinony as CainoIas
iapisl and kiIIoi lul soiious quoslions had loon iaisod aloul hoi ciodiliIily Al lho voiy Ioasl, lhoio oxisls
a possiliIily lhal AIfaio had Iiod On lho olhoi hand, lho sonon spocinon lakon fion CainoIa cannol
possilIy Iio Il cannol lo coachod oi aIIuiod ly a pioniso of iovaid oi financiaI suppoil No lvo poisons
havo lho sano DNA fingoipiinl, vilh lho oxcoplion of idonlicaI lvins
8j
If, on oxaninalion, lho DNA of
lho suljocl spocinon doos nol loIong lo Woll, lhon ho did nol iapo CainoIa Il is lhal sinpIo Thus, lho
Couil vouId havo loon alIo lo doloinino lhal AIfaio connillod poijuiy in saying lhal ho did

SliII, Woll is nol onlilIod lo acquillaI foi lho faiIuio of lho Slalo lo pioduco lho sonon spocinon al
lhis Ialo slago Ioi ono lhing, lho iuIing in 8radq t. Marq|and
9j
lhal ho cilos has Iong lo ovoilakon ly lho
docision in rizcna t. Ycungo|ccd,
1Oj
vhoio lho US Supiono Couil hoId lhal duo piocoss doos nol
ioquiio lho Slalo lo piosoivo lho sonon spocinon aIlhough il nighl lo usofuI lo lho accusod unIoss lho
Ialloi is alIo lo shov lad failh on lho pail of lho piosoculion oi lho poIico Hoio, lho Slalo piosonlod a
nodicaI oxpoil vho loslifiod on lho oxislonco of lho spocinon and Woll in facl soughl lo havo lho sano
suljoclod lo DNA losl

Ioi, anolhoi, vhon Woll iaisod lho DNA issuo, lho iuIo govoining DNA ovidonco did nol yol
oxisl, lho counliy did nol yol havo lho lochnoIogy foi conducling lho losl, and no IhiIippino piocodonl
had as yol iocognizod ils adnissiliIily as ovidonco ConsoquonlIy, lho idoa of kooping lho spocinon
socuio ovon afloi lho liiaI couil iojoclod lho nolion foi DNA losling did nol cono up Indood, noilhoi
Woll noi his co-accusod lioughl up lho nalloi of piosoiving lho spocinon in lho noanlino

IaionlholicaIIy, afloi lho liiaI couil doniod Wolls appIicalion foi DNA losling, ho aIIovod lho
piocooding lo novo on vhon ho had on al Ioasl lvo occasions gono up lo lho Couil of AppoaIs oi lho
Supiono Couil lo chaIIongo aIIogod aililiaiy aclions lakon againsl hin and lho olhoi accusod
11j
Thoy
iaisod lho DNA issuo lofoio lho Couil of AppoaIs lul noioIy as an oiioi connillod ly lho liiaI couil in
iondoiing ils docision in lho caso Nono of lho accusod fiIod a nolion vilh lho appoaIs couil lo havo lho
DNA losl dono ponding adjudicalion of lhoii appoaI This, ovon vhon lho Supiono Couil had in lho
noanlino passod lho iuIos aIIoving such losl Considoiing lho accusods Iack of inloiosl in having such
losl dono, lho Slalo cannol lo doonod pul on ioasonalIo nolico lhal il vouId lo ioquiiod lo pioduco lho
sonon spocinon al sono fuluio lino

Nov, lo lho noiil of lho caso

A!farn's 5tnry

asod on lho piosoculions voision, cuIIod fion lho docisions of lho liiaI couil and lho Couil of
AppoaIs, on }uno 29, 1991 al aiound 8:3O in lho ovoning, }ossica AIfaio diovo hoi Milsulishi Lancoi, vilh
loyfiiond Ioloi Lsliada as passongoi, lo lho AyaIa AIalang ConnoiciaI Conloi paiking Iol lo
luy 8aou fion Ailonio Dong Vonluia Thoio, Vonluia inlioducod hoi lo his fiionds: Huloil }offioy I
Woll, Anlonio Tony oy Lojano, MiguoI Cing Rodiiguoz, Hospicio Iyko Ioinandoz, MichaoI
CalchaIian, and }ooy IiIail AIfaio iocaIIod fioquonlIy sooing lhon al a 8aou houso in Iaiaaquo in
}anuaiy 1991, oxcopl Vonluia vhon sho had knovn oaiIioi in Doconloi 199O

As AIfaio snokod hoi shalu, Woll appioachod and ioquoslod hoi lo ioIay a nossago foi hin lo
a giiI, vhon sho Ialoi idonlifiod as CainoIa Vizcondo AIfaio agiood Afloi using up lhoii shalu, lho
gioup diovo lo CainoIas houso al 8O Vinzons Sliool, Iilong Daan Suldivision, I
Honos, Iaiaaquo Cily Riding in hoi cai, AIfaio and Lsliada liaiIod IiIail and Rodiiguoz vho iodo a
Mazda pick-up and Woll, Lojano, Vonluia, Ioinandoz, and CalchaIian vho voio on a Nissan IalioI cai

On ioaching lhoii doslinalion, AIfaio paikod hoi cai on Vinzons Sliool, aIighlod, and appioachod
CainoIas houso AIfaio piossod lho luzzoi and a vonan cano oul AIfaio quoiiod hoi aloul
CainoIa AIfaio had nol CainoIa lvico lofoio in }anuaiy 1991 Whon CainoIa cano oul, AIfaio gavo
hoi Wolls nossago lhal ho vas jusl aiound CainoIa iopIiod, hovovoi, lhal sho couId nol go oul yol
sinco sho had jusl aiiivod hono Sho loId AIfaio lo ioluin afloi lvonly ninulos AIfaio ioIayod lhis lo
Woll vho lhon loId lho gioup lo diivo lack lo lho AyaIa AIalang ConnoiciaI Conloi

Tho gioup had anolhoi 8aou sossion al lho paiking Iol Afloi sonolino, lhoy diovo lack lul
onIy AIfaio piocoodod lo Vinzons Sliool vhoio CainoIa Iivod Tho Nissan IalioI and lho Mazda pick-up,
vilh lhoii passongois, paikod sonovhoio aIong Aguiiio Avonuo CainoIa vas al lhoii gaidon Sho
appioachod AIfaio on sooing hoi and loId lho Ialloi lhal sho (CainoIa) had lo Ioavo lho houso foi a
vhiIo CainoIa ioquoslod AIfaio lo ioluin lofoio nidnighl and sho vouId Ioavo lho podosliian galo, lho
iion giiIIs lhal Iod lo lho kilchon, and lho kilchon dooi unIockod CainoIa aIso loId AIfaio lo lIink hoi
cais hoadIighls lvico vhon sho appioachod lho podosliian galo so CainoIa vouId knov lhal sho had
aiiivod

AIfaio ioluinod lo hoi cai lul vailod foi CainoIa lo diivo oul of lho houso in hoi ovn
cai AIfaio liaiIod CainoIa up lo Aguiiio Avonuo vhoio sho dioppod off a nan vhon AIfaio loIiovod
vas CainoIas loyfiiond AIfaio Iookod foi hoi gioup, found lhon, and ioIayod CainoIas insliuclions
lo Woll Thoy lhon aII vonl lack lo lho AyaIa AIalang ConnoiciaI Conloi Al lho paiking Iol, AIfaio
loId lho gioup aloul hoi laIk vilh CainoIa Whon sho loId Woll of CainoIas naIo conpanion, Wolls
nood changod foi lho iosl of lho ovoning (oad |rip)

Woll gavo oul fioo cocaino Thoy aII usod il and sono 8aou, loo Afloi aloul 4O lo 45 ninulos,
Woll docidod lhal il vas lino foi lhon lo Ioavo Ho said,!ipi|aan na|in 8iqa CainoIaj a| a|c ang
nauuna. Lojano said, |c ang 8u8uncd and lho olhois iospondod |aq, c|aq. Thoy aII Iofl lho paiking
Iol in a convoy of lhioo vohicIos and diovo inlo Iilong Daan Suldivision foi lho lhiid lino Thoy aiiivod
al CainoIas houso shoilIy lofoio nidnighl

AIfaio paikod hoi cai lolvoon Vizcondos houso and lho noxl WhiIo vailing foi lho olhois lo
aIighl fion lhoii cais, Ioinandoz appioachod AIfaio vilh a suggoslion lhal lhoy lIov up lho liansfoinoi
noai lho Vizcondos iosidonco lo causo a liovnoul (!a8aougin |aqa na|in ang |ran81crncr na i|c). ul
AIfaio shiuggod off lho idoa, loIIing Ioinandoz, Ma|a|a8 |ang ang |ana nc. Whon Woll, Lojano,
and Vonluia voio aIioady lofoio lho houso, Woll loId lho olhois again lhal lhoy vouId Iino up foi
CainoIa lul ho vouId lo lho fiisl Tho olhois iopIiod, 8igc, di|c |ang |ani, nagoaoan|aq |ang |ani.

AIfaio vas lho fiisl lo pass lhiough lho podosliian galo lhal had loon Iofl opon Woll, Lojano,
and Vonluia foIIovod hoi On onloiing lho gaiago, Vonluia using a chaii nounlod lho hood of lho
Vizcondos Nissan Sonlia and Ioosonod lho oIocliic luIl ovoi il (para dau ua|ang i|au). Tho snaII gioup
vonl lhiough lho opon iion giiII galo and passod lho diily kilchon CainoIa oponod lho aIuninun
scioon dooi of lho kilchon foi lhon Sho and Woll Iookod oach olhoi in lho oyos foi a nononl and,
logolhoi, hoadod foi lho dining aioa

As sho Iosl sighl of CainoIa and Woll, AIfaio docidod lo go oul Lojano askod hoi vhoio sho
vas going and sho iopIiod lhal sho vas going oul lo snoko As sho oasod hoi vay oul lhiough lho
kilchon dooi, sho sav Vonluia puIIing oul a kilchon diavoi AIfaio snokod a cigaiollo al lho
gaidon Afloi aloul lvonly ninulos, sho vas suipiisod lo hoai a vonans voico ask, $inc qan? AIfaio
innodialoIy vaIkod oul of lho gaidon lo hoi cai Sho found hoi olhoi conpanions niIIing aiound
il Lsliada vho sal in lho cai askod hoi, |aq oa?

Afloi silling in lho cai foi aloul lon ninulos, AIfaio ioluinod lo lho Vizcondo houso, using lho
sano ioulo Tho inloiioi of lho houso vas daik lul sono Iighl fiIloiod in fion oulsido In lho kilchon,
AIfaio sav Vonluia soaiching a Iadys lag lhal Iay on lho dining lalIo Whon sho askod hin vhal ho vas
Iooking foi, ho said: ||au na nga di|c, naganap |a ng 8u8i. Sho askod hin vhal koy ho vanlod and ho
iopIiod: 8a8|a naganap |a ng 8u8i ng nain dccr pa|i na rin ng 8u8i ng |c|8c. Whon sho found a lunch of
koys in lho lag, sho liiod lhon on lho nain dooi lul nono fillod lho Iock Sho aIso did nol find lho cai
koy

UnalIo lo opon lho nain dooi, AIfaio ioluinod lo lho kilchon WhiIo sho vas al a spol Ioading lo
lho dining aioa, sho hoaid a slalic noiso (Iiko a loIovision lhal ionainod on afloi lho slalion had signod
off) Oul of cuiiosily, sho appioachod lho naslois lodioon fion vhoio lho noiso cano, oponod lho dooi
a IillIo, and pookod insido Tho unusuaI sound giov ovon Ioudoi As sho vaIkod in, sho sav Woll on
lop of CainoIa vhiIo sho Iay vilh hoi lack on lho fIooi Tvo lIoodiod lodios Iay on lho lod Lojano vas
al lho fool of lho lod aloul lo voai his jackol CainoIa vas gaggod, noaning, and in loais vhiIo Woll
iapod hoi, his laio lullocks oxposod

Woll gavo AIfaio a noaningfuI Iook and sho innodialoIy Iofl lho ioon Sho nol Vonluia al lho
dining aioa Ho loId hoi, !rcparc an c8.apc. a|i8 na |aqc. Shockod vilh vhal sho sav, AIfaio iushod oul
of lho houso lo lho olhois vho voio oilhoi silling in hoi cai oi niIIing on lho sidovaIk Sho onloiod hoi
cai and luinod on lho ongino lul sho did nol knov vhoio lo go Woll, Lojano, and Vonluia cano oul of
lho houso jusl lhon Woll suddonIy pickod up a slono and lhiov il al lho nain dooi, lioaking ils gIass
fiano

As lho lhioo non appioachod lho podosliian galo, Woll loId Vonluia lhal ho foigol his jackol in
lho houso ul Vonluia loId hin lhal lhoy couId nol gol in anynoio as lho iion giiIIs had aIioady
Iockod Thoy aII iodo in lhoii cais and diovo avay unliI lhoy ioachod Aguiiio Avonuo As lhoy gol noai
an oId holoI al lhoTiopicaI IaIaco aioa, AIfaio nolicod lho Nissan IalioI sIov dovn Sonoono lhiov
sonolhing oul of lho cai inlo lho cogonaI aioa

Tho convoy of cais vonl lo a Iaigo houso vilh high vaIIs, conciolo fonco, slooI galo, and a Iong
diivovay al I Lxoculivo ViIIago Thoy onloiod lho conpound and galhoiod al lho Iavn vhoio lho
lIaning sossion look pIaco Il vas hoio lhal AIfaio and lhoso vho ionainod oulsido lho Vizcondo
houso Ioainod of vhal happonod Tho fiisl lo lo kiIIod vas CainoIas nolhoi, lhon }onnifoi, and finaIIy,
CainoIIa Vonluia lIanod Woll, loIIing hin, 8a|i| nanan pa|i qung oa|a? Woll iopIiod lhal lho giiI
voko up and on sooing hin noIosling CainoIa, sho junpod on hin, lil his shouIdois, and puIIod his
haii Woll gol nad, giallod lho giiI, pushod hoi lo lho vaII, and iopoalodIy slallod hoi Lojano
oxcusod hinsoIf al lhis poinl lo uso lho loIophono in lho houso MoanvhiIo, Woll caIIod up sonoono on
his coIIuIai phono

Al aiound 2:OO in lho noining, accusod Coiaido iong aiiivod Woll oidoiod hin lo go and
cIoan up lho Vizcondo houso and said lo hin, !cra |ang ang |a|apa| nqan. iong ansvoiod, |aq
|ang. Woll spoko lo his conpanions and loId lhon, Wo donl knov oach olhoi Wo havonl soon oach
olhoi.oa|a nau|i| qan. AIfaio and Lsliada Iofl and lhoy diovo lo hoi falhois houso
12j


1. Thc qua!Ity nf thc wItncss

Was AIfaio an oidinaiy suldivision giiI vho shovod up al lho NI afloi foui yoais, lolhoiod ly
hoi conscionco oi oggod on ly ioIalivos oi fiionds lo cono foivaid and do vhal vas iighl` No Sho vas,
al lho lino sho iovoaIod hoi sloiy, voiking foi lho NI as an assol, a slooI pigoon, ono vho oainod hoi
Iiving ly fialoinizing vilh ciininaIs so sho couId squoaI on lhon lo hoi NI handIois Sho had lo Iivo a
Iifo of Iios lo gol iovaids lhal vouId pay foi hoi sulsislonco and vicos

Accoiding lo Ally Ailonio Sacaguing, foinoi hoad of lho NI Anli-Kidnapping, Hijacking, and
Ainod Rolloiy Task Ioico (AKHAR) Soclion, AIfaio had loon hanging aiound al lho NI sinco
Novonloi oi Doconloi 1994 as an assol Sho suppIiod hoi handIois vilh infoinalion againsl diug
pushois and olhoi ciininaI oIononls Sono of lhis infoinalion Iod lo lho capluio of noloiious diug
pushois Iiko Chiislophoi Ciuz Sanlos and OiIando acquii AIfaios lip Iod lo lho aiiosl of lho Ioadoi of
lho MailiIyo gang lhal kiIIod a poIico officoi ocauso of hoi laIonl, lho lask foico gavo hoi voiy spociaI
lioalnonl and sho locano ils daiIing, aIIovod lho piiviIogo of sponding nighls in ono of lho ioons al
lho NI officos

Whon AIfaio soonod unpioduclivo foi sonolino, hovovoi, lhoy loasod hoi aloul il and sho vas
piquod Ono day, sho unoxpoclodIy loId Sacaguing lhal sho knov sonoono vho had lho ioaI sloiy
lohind lho Vizcondo nassacio Sacaguing shovod inloiosl AIfaio pionisod lo liing lhal sonoono lo lho
NI lo loII his sloiy Whon lhis did nol happon and Sacaguing conlinuod lo pioss hoi, sho loId hin lhal
sho nighl as voII assuno lho ioIo of hoi infoinanl Sacaguing loslifiod lhus:


ATTY. ONGKIKO:
Q. Atty. 5acaguIng, hnw dId JcssIca A!farn bccnmc a wItncss In thc VIzcnndc
murdcr casc? WI!! ynu tc!! thc Hnnnrab!c Cnurt?

x x x x

A. 5hc tn!d mc. Ynur Hnnnr, that shc kncw snmcbndy whn rc!atcd tn hcr thc
cIrcumstanccs, I mcan, thc dctaI!s nf thc massacrc nf thc VIzcnndc
famI!y. That's what shc tn!d mc, Ynur Hnnnr.

ATTY. ONGKIKO:
Q. And what dId ynu say?

x x x x

A. I was quItc Intcrcstcd and I trIcd tn pcrsuadc hcr tn Intrnducc tn mc that man
and shc prnmIscd that In duc tImc, shc wI!! brIng tn mc thc man, and tngcthcr
wIth hcr, wc wI!! try tn cnnvIncc hIm tn act as a statc wItncss and hc!p us In
thc sn!utInn nf thc casc.

x x x x

Q. Atty. 5acaguIng, wcrc ynu ab!c tn IntcrvIcw thIs a!!cgcd wItncss?

WITNE55 5ACAGUING:
A. Nn, sIr.

ATTY. ONGKIKO:
Q. Why nnt?

WITNE55 5ACAGUING:
A. Bccausc JcssIca A!farn was ncvcr ab!c tn cnmp!y wIth hcr prnmIsc tn brIng thc
man tn mc. 5hc tn!d mc !atcr that shc cnu!d nnt and thc man dncs nnt !Ikc tn
tcstIfy.

ATTY. ONGKIKO:
Q. A!! rIght, and what happcncd aftcr that?

WITNE55 5ACAGUING:
A. 5hc tn!d mc, "casy !ang kayn, 5Ir," If I may quntc, "casy !ang 5Ir, huwag
kaynng."

COURT:
Hnw was that?

WITNE55 5ACAGUING:
A. "Easy !ang, 5Ir. 5Ir, rc!ax !ang, 5Ir, papapc!an kn, papapc!an kn na !ang 'yan."

x x x x

ATTY. ONGKIKO:
Q. A!! rIght, and what was ynur rcactInn whcn Ms. A!farn statcd that "papapc!an
kn na !ang yan?"

WITNE55 5ACAGUING:
A. I saId, "hIndI puwcdc yan, kasI hIndI ka naman cyc wItncss."

ATTY. ONGKIKO:
Q. And what was thc rcp!y nf Ms. A!farn?

WITNE55 5ACAGUING:
A. HIndI sIya nakakIbn, untI! shc wcnt away.
(T5N, May 28, 1996, pp. 49-50, 58, 77-79)


Quilo significanlIy, AIfaio novoi iofulod Sacaguings alovo loslinony

2. Thc suspIcInus dctaI!s

ul vas il possilIo foi AIfaio lo Iio vilh such alundanl dolaiIs sono of vhich ovon laIIiod vilh
lho physicaI ovidonco al lho scono of lho ciino` No doull, yos

IiislIy, lho Vizcondo nassacio had loon iopoilod in lho nodia vilh dizzying dolaiIs Lvoiylody
vas laIking aloul vhal lho poIico found al lho ciino scono and lhoio voio Iols of spocuIalions aloul
lhon

SocondIy, lho poIico had aiioslod sono akyal-lahay gioup in Iaiaaquo and chaigod lhon
vilh lho ciino Tho poIico piopaiod lho confossions of lho non lhoy appiohondod and fiIIod lhoso up
vilh dolaiIs lhal lho ovidonco of lho ciino scono piovidod AIfaios NI handIois vho voio doing lhoii
ovn invosligalion knov of lhoso dolaiIs as voII Sinco AIfaio hangod oul al lho NI officos and
piaclicaIIy Iivod lhoio, il vas nol loo difficuIl foi hoi lo hoai of lhoso ovidonliaiy dolaiIs and gain accoss
lo lho docunonls

Nol suipiisingIy, lho confossions of sono nonlois of lho aiioso akyal lahay gang,
condonnod ly lho Makali RTC as faliicalod ly lho poIico lo pin lho ciino on lhon, shovs hov ciino
invosligalois couId nako a confossion iing liuo ly nalching sono of ils dolaiIs vilh lho physicaI
ovidonco al lho ciino scono Considoi lho foIIoving:

a Tho aiioso gang nonlois said lhal lhoy gol inlo CainoIas houso ly lioaking lho gIass
panoI of lho fionl dooi using a slono viappod in cIolh lo doadon lho noiso AIfaio couId nol uso lhis Iino
sinco lho coio of hoi sloiy vas lhal Woll vas CainoIas loyfiiond Woll had no ioason lo snash hoi
fionl dooi lo gol lo soo hoi

ConsoquonlIy, lo oxpIain lho snashod dooi, AIfaio had lo sollIo foi cIaining lhal, on lho vay oul
of lho houso, Woll pickod up sono slono and, oul of lho lIuo, huiIod il al lho gIass-panoIod fionl dooi of
lho Vizcondo iosidonco His aclion ioaIIy nado no sonso Iion AIfaios naiialion, Woll appoaiod
ialionaI in his docisions Il vas pasl nidnighl, lho houso vas daik, and lhoy vanlod lo gol avay quickIy
lo avoid doloclion HuiIing a slono al lhal gIass dooi and causing a lionondous noiso vas lizaiio, Iiko
inviling lho noighlois lo cono

l Tho ciino scono shovod lhal lho houso had loon iansackod Tho iojoclod confossions of lho
aiioso akyal-lahay gang nonlois said lhal lhoy liiod lo iol lho houso To oxpIain lhis physicaI
ovidonco, AIfaio cIainod lhal al ono poinl Vonluia vas puIIing a kilchon diavoi, and al anolhoi poinl,
going lhiough a handlag on lho dining lalIo Ho said ho vas Iooking foi lho fionl-dooi koy and lho cai
koy

Again, lhis poilion of AIfaios sloiy appoais loiluiod lo acconnodalo lho physicaI ovidonco of
lho iansackod houso Sho novoi nonlionod Vonluia having lakon sono vaIualIos vilh hin vhon lhoy
Iofl CainoIas houso And vhy vouId Vonluia iunnago a lag on lho lalIo foi lho fionl-dooi koy,
spiIIing lho conlonls, vhon lhoy had aIioady gollon inlo lho houso Il is a sloiy nado lo fil in vilh lho
ciino scono aIlhough iolloiy vas supposodIy nol lho ioason Woll and his conpanions onloiod lhal
houso

c Il is lho sano lhing vilh lho gaiago Iighl Tho poIico invosligalois found lhal lho luIl had
loon Ioosonod lo luin off lho Iighl Tho confossions of lho aiioso gang cIainod lhal ono of lhon cIinlod
lho paikod cais hood lo ioach up and daikon lhal Iighl This nado sonso sinco lhoy voio going lo iol
lho pIaco and lhoy noodod lino lo voik in lho daik liying lo opon lho fionl dooi Sono passoisly nighl
Iook in and soo vhal lhoy voio doing

AIfaio had lo adjusl hoi loslinony lo lako inlo accounl lhal daikonod gaiago Iighl So sho
cIainod lhal Vonluia cIinlod lho cais hood, using a chaii, lo luin lho Iighl off ul, unIiko lho aiioso
akyal-lahay gang, Woll and his fiionds did nol havo anylhing lo do in a daikonod gaiago Thoy
supposodIy knov in advanco lhal CainoIa Iofl lho doois lo lho kilchon opon foi lhon Il did nol nako
sonso foi Vonluia lo iisk slanding on lho cais hood and lo soon in such an avkvaid posilion insload of
going sliaighl inlo lho houso

And, lhiidIy, AIfaio vas lho NIs slai vilnoss, lhoii ladgo of oxcoIIonl invosligalivo voik Afloi
cIaining lhal lhoy had soIvod lho ciino of lho docado, lho NI poopIo had a slako in naking hoi sound
ciodilIo and, olviousIy, lhoy gavo hoi aII lho piopaialions sho noodod foi lho jol of loconing a faiiIy
good sulslilulo vilnoss Sho vas lhoii daiIing of an assol And lhis is nol puio spocuIalion As poinlod
oul alovo, Sacaguing of lho NI, a Iavyoi and a ianking officiaI, confiinod lhis lo lo a coId facl Why
lho liiaI couil and lho Couil of AppoaIs faiIod lo soo lhis is nyslifying

Al any ialo, did AIfaio al Ioasl havo a fino nonoiy foi facos lhal had a sliong offocl on hoi, givon
lho ciicunslancos` Nol IikoIy Sho nanod MiguoI Cing Rodiiguoz as ono of lho cuIpiils in lho
Vizcondo kiIIings ul vhon lho NI found a coilain MichaoI Rodiiguoz, a diug dopondonl fion lho
iculan RohaliIilalion Conloi, iniliaIIy suspoclod lo lo AIfaios MiguoI Rodiiguoz and shovod hin lo
AIfaio al lho NI offico, sho ian loisoik, sIapping and kicking MichaoI, oxcIaining: Hov can I foigol
youi faco Wo jusl sav oach olhoi in a disco ono nonlh ago and you loId no lhon lhal you viII kiII
no As il luinod oul, ho vas nol MiguoI Rodiiguoz, lho accusod in lhis caso
13j


Tvo possiliIilios oxisl: MichaoI vas ioaIIy lho ono AIfaio vanlod lo inpIicalo lo sollIo sono scoio
vilh hin lul il vas loo Ialo lo chango lho nano sho aIioady gavo oi sho had nyopic vision, lagging lho
viong poopIo foi vhal lhoy did nol do

3. Thc qua!Ity nf thc tcstImnny

Thoio is anolhoi lhing aloul a Iying vilnoss: hoi sloiy Iacks sonso oi suffois fion inhoionl
inconsisloncios An undoislanding of lho naluio of lhings and lho connon lohavioi of poopIo viII hoIp
oxposo a Iio And il has an alundanl piosonco in lhis caso

Ono In hoi dosiio lo inpIicalo CalchaIian, Ioinandoz, Lsliada, Rodiiguoz, and IiIail, vho voio
supposod lo lo Wolls co-piincipaIs in lho ciino, AIfaio nado il a poinl lo loslify lhal Woll pioposod
lvico lo his fiionds lho gang-iapo of CainoIa vho had huil hin And lvico, lhoy (incIuding, if ono
loIiovos AIfaio, hoi ovn loyfiiond Lsliada) agiood in a choius lo his pioposaI ul vhon lhoy gol lo
CainoIas houso, onIy Woll, Lojano, Vonluia, and AIfaio onloiod lho houso

CalchaIian, Ioinandoz, Lsliada, and Rodiiguoz supposodIy slayod aiound AIfaios cai, vhich
vas paikod on lho sliool lolvoon CainoIas houso and lho noxl Sono of lhoso non sal on lop of lho cais
Iid vhiIo olhois niIIod on lho sidovaIk, visilIo undoi lho sliool Iighl lo anyono vho caiod lo valch lhon,
pailicuIaiIy lo lho poopIo vho voio having a diinking paily in a noaily houso OlviousIy, lho lohavioi
of Wolls conpanions oul on lho sliool did nol figuio in a pIannod gang-iapo of CainoIa

Tvo Vonluia, AIfaios dopo suppIioi, inlioducod hoi foi lho fiisl lino in hoi Iifo lo Woll and
his fiionds in a paiking Iol ly a naII So vhy vouId sho agioo lo acl as Wolls nossongoi, using hoi gas,
lo liing his nossago lo CainoIa al hoi hono Moio inoxpIicalIy, vhal nolivalod AIfaio lo slick il oul lho
vhoIo nighl vilh Woll and his fiionds`

Thoy voio piaclicaIIy sliangois lo hoi and hoi loyfiiond Lsliada Whon il cano lo a poinl lhal
Woll docidod vilh his fiionds lo gang-iapo CainoIa, cIoaiIy, lhoio vas nolhing in il foi AIfaio Yol, sho
sluck il oul vilh lhon, as a poIico assol vouId, hanging in lhoio unliI sho had a ciino lo iopoil, onIy sho
vas nol yol an assol lhon If, on lho olhoi hand, AIfaio had loon loo soakod in diugs lo lhink cIoaiIy
and jusl foIIovod aIong vhoio lho gioup look hoi, hov couId sho iononloi so nuch dolaiIs lhal onIy a
diug-fioo nind can`

Thioo Whon AIfaio vonl lo soo CainoIa al hoi houso foi lho socond lino, CainoIIa loId hoi lhal
sho sliII had lo go oul and lhal Woll and his fiionds shouId cono lack aiound nidnighl AIfaio
ioluinod lo hoi cai and vailod foi CainoIa lo diivo oul in hoi ovn cai And sho liaiIod hoi up lo Aguiiio
Avonuo vhoio sho supposodIy dioppod off a nan vhon sho lhoughl vas CainoIas loyfiiond AIfaios
liaiIing CainoIa lo spy on hoi unfailhfuInoss lo Woll did nol nako sonso sinco sho vas on Iinilod
oiiand ul, as a ciilicaI vilnoss, AIfaio had lo piovido a ioason foi Woll lo fioak oul and docido lo
cono vilh his fiionds and hain CainoIa

Ioui Accoiding lo AIfaio, vhon lhoy ioluinod lo CainoIas houso lho lhiid lino aiound
nidnighl, sho Iod Woll, Lojano, and Vonluia lhiough lho podosliian galo lhal CainoIa had Iofl
opon Nov, lhis is voiid Woll vas lho gang Ioadoi vho docidod vhal lhoy voio going lo do Ho
docidod and his fiionds agiood vilh hin lo go lo CainoIas houso and gang-iapo hoi Why vouId
AIfaio, a vonan, a sliangoi lo Woll lofoio lhal nighl, and olviousIy vilh no ioIo lo pIay in lho gang-
iapo of CainoIa, Ioad hin and lho olhois inlo hoi houso` Il nado no sonso Il vouId onIy nako sonso if
AIfaio vanlod lo foign loing a vilnoss lo sonolhing sho did nol soo

Iivo AIfaio vonl oul of lho houso lo snoko al lho gaidon Afloi aloul lvonly ninulos, a
vonan oxcIainod, $inc qan? On hoaiing lhis, AIfaio innodialoIy vaIkod oul of lho gaidon and vonl
lo hoi cai AppaionlIy, sho did lhis locauso sho knov lhoy cano on a sIy Sonoono olhoi lhan CainoIa
locano conscious of lho piosonco of Woll and olhois in lho houso AIfaio vaIkod avay locauso,
olviousIy, sho did nol vanl lo gol invoIvod in a polonliaI confionlalion This vas supposodIy hoi fiano
of nind: foai of golling invoIvod in vhal vas nol hoi lusinoss

ul if lhal voio lho caso, hov couId sho loslify lasod on poisonaI knovIodgo of vhal vonl on in
lho houso` AIfaio had lo chango lhal fiano of nind lo ono of loIdnoss and iockIoss cuiiosily So lhal is
vhal sho noxl cIainod Sho vonl lack inlo lho houso lo valch as Woll iapod CainoIa on lho fIooi of lho
naslois lodioon Ho had appaionlIy slallod lo doalh CainoIas non and hoi young sisloi vhoso
lIoodiod lodios voio spiavIod on lho lod Nov, AIfaio loslifiod lhal sho gol scaiod (anolhoi shifl lo
foai) foi sho huiiiodIy gol oul of lho houso afloi Woll supposodIy gavo hoi a noaningfuI Iook

AIfaio quickIy vonl lo hoi cai, nol ninding CalchaIian, Ioinandoz, Lsliada, Rodiiguoz, and
IiIail vho sal on lho cai oi niIIod on lho sidovaIk Sho did nol spoak lo lhon, ovon lo Lsliada, hoi
loyfiiond Sho onloiod hoi cai and luinod on lho ongino lul sho loslifiod lhal sho did nol knov vhoio lo
go This vonan vho a fov ninulos lack Iod Woll, Lojano, and Vonluia inlo lho houso, knoving lhal
lhoy voio docidod lo iapo and hain CainoIa, vas suddonIy loo shockod lo knov vhoio lo go! This
onolionaI ponduIun sving indicalos a vilnoss vho vas confusod vilh hoi ovn Iios

4. Thc suppnscd cnrrnbnratInns

Inlonding lo piovido coiioloialion lo AIfaios loslinony, lho piosoculion piosonlod six
addilionaI vilnossos:

Dr. !rnspcrn A. Cabanayan, lho NI Modico-LogaI Officoi vho aulopsiod lho lodios of lho
viclins, loslifiod on lho slal vounds lhoy suslainod
14j
and lho piosonco of sonon in CainoIas
gonilaIia,
15j
indicaling lhal sho had loon iapod

Nnrma! E. WhItc, Jr., vas lho socuiily guaid on duly al Iilong Daan Suldivision fion 7 pn of
}uno 29 lo 7 an of }uno 3O, 1991 Ho gol a iopoil on lho noining of }uno 3O lhal sonolhing unlovaid
happonod al lho Vizcondo iosidonco Ho vonl lhoio and sav lho doad lodios in lho naslois lodioon,
lho lag on lho dining lalIo, as voII as lho Ioud noiso onanaling fion a loIovision sol
1j


Whilo cIainod lhal ho nolicod CalchaIian and his conpanions, nono of vhon ho couId idonlify,
go in and oul of Iilong Daan Suldivision Ho aIso sav lhon aIong Vinzons Sliool Laloi, lhoy onloiod
Iilong Daan Suldivision in a lhioo-cai convoy Whilo couId nol, hovovoi, dosciilo lho kind of vohicIos
lhoy usod oi iocaII lho lino vhon ho sav lho gioup in lhoso lvo inslancos And ho did nol nolico
anylhing suspicious aloul lhoii coning and going

ul Whilos loslinony cannol lo ioIiod on His iniliaI cIain luinod oul lo lo inaccuialo Ho
acluaIIy sav CalchaIian and his gioup onloi lho Iilong Daan Suldivision onIy onco Thoy voio nol
going in and oul Iuilhoinoio, AIfaio loslifiod lhal vhon lho convoy of cais vonl lack lho socond lino
in lho diioclion of CainoIas houso, sho aIono onloiod lho suldivision and passod lho guaidhouso
vilhoul slopping Yol, Whilo vho supposodIy nannod lhal guaidhouso did nol nolico hoi

SuipiisingIy, Whilo faiIod lo nolo iong, a poIico officoi, onloiing oi oxiling lho suldivision on
lho oaiIy noining of }uno 3O vhon ho supposodIy cIoanod up Vizcondo iosidonco on Wolls
oidois Whal is noio, Whilo did nol nolico CainoIa aiiivo vilh hoi non lofoio AIfaios fiisl visil lhal
nighl CainoIa supposodIy Iofl vilh a naIo conpanion in hoi cai al aiound 1O:3O pn lul Whilo did nol
nolico il Ho aIso did nol nolico CainoIa ioonloi lho suldivision Whilo acluaIIy disciodilod AIfaios
loslinony aloul lho novononls of lho poisons invoIvod

Iuilhoi, vhiIo AIfaio loslifiod lhal il vas lho Mazda pick-up diivon ly IiIail lhal Iod lho lhioo-
vohicIo convoy,
17j
Whilo cIainod il vas lho Nissan IalioI vilh CalchaIian on il lhal Iod lho convoy sinco
ho vouId nol havo Iol lho convoy in vilhoul ascoilaining lhal CalchaIian, a iosidonl, vas in il Socuiily
guaid Whilo did nol, lhoiofoio, piovido coiioloialion lo AIfaios loslinony


Justn Cabanacan, lho socuiily supoivisoi al Iilong Daan Suldivision loslifiod lhal ho sav Woll
aiound lho Iasl vook of May oi lho fiisl vook of }uno 1991 lo piovo his piosonco in lho IhiIippinos vhon
ho cIainod lo lo in lho Unilod Slalos Ho vas nanning lho guaid houso al lho onlianco of lho suldivision
of Iilong Daan vhon ho fIaggod dovn a cai diivon ly Woll Woll said lhal ho vouId soo LiIol
Sy Calanacan askod hin foi an ID lul ho poinlod lo his Unilod I Honos slickoi and said lhal ho
iosidod lhoio Calanacan iopIiod, hovovoi, lhal Iilong Daan had a IocaI slickoi

Calanacan loslifiod lhal, al lhis poinl, Woll inlioducod hinsoIf as lho son of Congiossnan
Woll SliII, lho supoivisoi insislod on sooing his ID Woll giudgingIy gavo il and afloi sooing lho
picluio and lho nano on il, Calanacan ioluinod lho sano and aIIovod Woll lo pass vilhoul loing
Ioggod in as lhoii Slandaid Opoialing Iiocoduio ioquiiod
18j


ul Calanacan's loslinony couId nol lo ioIiod on AIlhough il vas nol connon foi a socuiily
guaid lo chaIIongo a Congiossnans son vilh such vohononco, Calanacan did nol Iog lho incidonl on lho
guaidhouso look Noi did ho, conliaiy lo piosciilod piocoduio, iocoid lho visilois onliy inlo lho
suldivision Il did nol nako sonso lhal Calanacan vas sliicl in lho nalloi of sooing Wolls ID lul nol in
iocoiding lho visil

MI!a GavIn!a usod lo voik as Iaundiy vonan foi lho Wolls al lhoii houso al
I Honos Lxoculivo ViIIago Sho loslifiod lhal sho sav Woll al his paionls houso on lho noining of
}uno 3O, 1991 vhon sho gol lho diily cIolhos fion lho ioon lhal ho and lvo liolhois occupiod al aloul
4an Sho sav hin again pacing lho fIooi al 9 an Al aloul 1 pn, Woll Iofl lho houso in l-shiil and
shoils, passing lhiough a sociol dooi noai lho naids quailois on lho vay oul IinaIIy, sho sav Woll al 4
pn of lho sano day
19j


On cioss-oxaninalion, hovovoi, CavioIa couId nol say vhal dislinguishod }uno 3O, 1991 fion lho
olhoi days sho vas on soivico al lho Woll housohoId as lo onalIo hoi lo dislinclIy iononloi, foui yoais
Ialoi, vhal ono of lho Woll loys did and al vhal lino Sho couId nol iononloi any of lho dolaiIs lhal
happonod in lho housohoId on lho olhoi days Sho piovod lo havo a soIoclivo phologiaphic nonoiy and
lhis onIy danagod hoi loslinony

CavioIa liiod lo coiioloialo AIfaio's loslinony ly cIaining lhal on }uno 3O, 1991 sho nolicod
lIoodslains on Woll's l-shiil
2Oj
Sho did nol caII lho allonlion of anylody in lho housohoId aloul il vhon
il vouId havo loon a poinl of concoin lhal Woll nay havo loon huil, honco lho lIood

osidos, Vicloiia Vonloso, lho Wolls' housonaid fion Maich 1989 lo May 1992, and Sgl MiguoI
Muoz, lho Wolls' socuiily aido in 1991, loslifiod lhal CavioIa voikod foi lho Wolls onIy fion }anuaiy
1991 lo ApiiI 1991 Vonloso fuilhoi loslifiod lhal il vas nol CavioIa's duly lo coIIocl lho cIolhos fion lho
2
nd
fIooi lodioons, lhis loing lho voik of lho housonaid chaigod vilh cIoaning lho ioons

Whal is noio, il vas nosl unIikoIy foi a Iaundiyvonan vho had loon lhoio foi onIy foui
nonlhs lo coIIocl, as sho cIainod, lho Iaundiy fion lho ioons of hoi onpIoyois and lhoii giovn up
chiIdion al foui in lho noining vhiIo lhoy voio asIoop

And il did nol nako sonso, if AIfaios loslinony voio lo lo loIiovod lhal Woll, vho vas so
caiofuI and cIovoi lhal ho caIIod iong lo go lo lho Vizcondo iosidonco al 2 an lo cIoan up lho ovidonco
againsl hin and his gioup, vouId liing his lIoodiod shiil hono and pul il in lho hanpoi foi
Iaundiyvonan CavioIa lo coIIocl and vash al 4 an as vas hoi supposod halil

Ln!Ita Dc BIrrcr vas accusod iongs giiIfiiond aiound lho lino lho Vizcondo nassacio look
pIaco iiioi loslifiod lhal sho vas vilh iong pIaying nahjong fion lho ovoning of }uno 29, 1991 lo lho
oaiIy noining of }uno 3O, vhon iong gol a caII al aiound 2 an This pionplod hin, accoiding lo Do
iiioi, lo Ioavo and go lo I Sonoono silling al lho lacksoal of a laxi pickod hin up Whon iong
ioluinod al 7 an ho vashod off vhal Iookod Iiko diiod lIood fion his fingoinaiIs And ho lhiov avay a
fouI-snoIIing handkoichiof Sho aIso sav iong lako oul a knifo vilh aIuninun covoi fion his diavoi
and hid il in his slooI calinol
21j


Tho socuiily guaid al Iilong Daan did nol nolico any poIico invosligaloi fIashing a ladgo lo gol
inlo lho viIIago aIlhough iong supposodIy cano in al lho unhoIy houi of lvo in lho noining His
dopailuio lofoio 7 an aIso ionainod unnolicod ly lho suldivision guaids osidos, if ho had cIoanod
up lho ciino scono shoilIy afloi nidnighl, vhal vas lho poinl of his ioluining lhoio on lho foIIoving
noining lo disposo of sono of lho ovidonco in lho piosonco of olhoi poIico invosligalois and on-
Iookois` In facl, vhy vouId ho sloaI vaIualIo ilons fion lho Vizcondo iosidonco on his ioluin lhoio
houis Ialoi if ho had lho oppoilunily lo do il oaiIioi`

Al nosl, iiiois loslinony onIy oslalIishod iongs lhofl of coilain ilons fion lho Vizcondo
iosidonco and gioss nogIocl foi faiIing lo nainlain lho sanclily of lho ciino scono ly noving aiound and
aIloiing lho offocls of lho ciino iiiois loslinony faiIod lo connocl iong's acls lo Woll and lho olhoi
accusod

Laurn VIzcnndc loslifiod aloul hov doopIy ho vas affoclod ly lho Ioss of hoi vifo and lvo
daughlois CainoIIa spoko lo hin of a iojoclod suiloi sho caIIod agyo, locauso ho vas a Iaiaaquo
poIilicians son UnfoilunaloIy, Lauio did nol appoai cuiious onough lo insisl on finding oul vho lho
iojoclod foIIov vas osidos, his loslinony conliadicls lhal of AIfaio vho loslifiod lhal CainoIa and
Woll had an on-going ioIalion Indood, if AIfaio voio lo lo loIiovod, CainoIa vanlod Woll lo cono lo
hoi houso aiound nidnighl Sho ovon Iofl lho kilchon dooi opon so ho couId onloi lho houso

5. Thc mIssIng cnrrnbnratInn

Thoio is sonolhing liuIy ionaikalIo aloul lhis caso: lho piosoculions coio lhooiy lhal CainoIa
and Woll had loon svoolhoails, lhal sho had loon unfailhfuI lo hin, and lhal il vas foi lhis ioason lhal
Woll lioughl his fiionds lo hoi houso lo gang-iapo hoi is lolaIIy uncoiioloialod!

Ioi inslanco, noinaIIy, if Woll, a Congiossnans son, couilod lho young CainoIa, lhal vouId lo
novs anong hoi ciicIo of fiionds if nol aiound lovn ul, hoio, nono of hoi fiionds oi ovon lhoso vho
knov oilhoi of lhon cano foivaid lo affiin lhis And if Woll hangod aiound vilh hoi, liying lo vin hoi
favois, ho vouId suioIy lo soon vilh hoi And lhis vouId aII lho noio lo so if lhoy had locono
svoolhoails, a ioIalion lhal AIfaio liiod lo piojocl vilh hoi loslinony

ul, oxcopl foi AIfaio, lho NI assol, no ono anong CainoIas fiionds oi hoi fiionds fiionds
vouId loslify ovoi hoaiing of such ioIalionship oi ovoi sooing lhon logolhoi in sono popuIai hangouls in
Iaiaaquo oi Makali AIfaios cIain of a fivo-houi diana is Iiko an aIion pago, iudoIy and unconnoclodIy
insoilod inlo Woll and CainoIas Iifo sloiios oi Iiko a pioco of jigsav puzzIo liinnod lo fil inlo lho shapo
on lho loaid lul doos nol loIong locauso il cIashos vilh lho suiiounding piocos Il has noilhoi
anlocodonl noi conconilanl suppoil in lho voiifialIo facls of lhoii poisonaI hisloiios Il is quilo unioaI

Whal is noio, AIfaio loslifiod lhal sho sav CainoIa diivo oul of hoi houso vilh a naIo
passongoi, Mi X, vhon AIfaio lhoughl lho vay il Iookod vas aIso CainoIas Iovoi This vas lho aII-
inpoilanl ioason Woll supposodIy had foi vanling lo hain hoi Again, nono of CainoIas ioIalivos,
fiionds, oi poopIo vho knov hoi ovoi loslifiod aloul lho oxislonco of MiX in hoi Iifo Nolody has cono
foivaid lo loslify having ovoi soon hin vilh CainoIa And dospilo lho giuosono novs aloul hoi doalh
and hov Mi X had pIayod a ioIo in il, ho novoi piosonlod hinsoIf Iiko anyono vho had Iosl a spociaI
fiiond noinaIIy vouId OlviousIy, Mi X did nol oxisl, a noio ghosl of lho inaginalion of AIfaio, lho
vonan vho nado a Iiving infoining on ciininaIs


Wcbb's U.5. A!IbI

Anong lho accusod, Woll piosonlod lho sliongosl aIili

a. Thc travc! prcparatInns

Woll cIains lhal in 1991 his paionls, Sonaloi Iioddio Woll and his vifo, LIizalolh, sonl lhoii
son lo lho Unilod Slalos (US) lo Ioain lho vaIuo of indopondonco, haid voik, and nonoy
22j
CIoiia
Woll, his aunl, acconpaniod hin Rajah Touis lookod lhoii fIighl lo San Iiancisco via Unilod
AiiIinos }osofina NoIasco of Rajah Touis confiinod lhal Woll and his aunl usod lhoii pIano lickols

Woll loId his fiionds, incIuding his noighloi, }onnifoi CIaiio Calioia, and his laskollaII luddy,
}osoIilo Oiondain Lscolai, of his liavoI pIans Ho ovon invilod lhon lo his dc8pcdida paily on Maich 8,
1991 al Iacos Disco aIong Makali Avo
23j
On Maich 8,1991, lho ovo of his dopailuio, ho look giiIfiiond
MiIagios CasliIIo lo a dinnoi al unchuns al lho Makali Cinona Squaio His laskollaII luddy RafaoI
}oso vilh Tina CaIna, a lIind dalo aiiangod ly Woll, joinod lhon Thoy afloivaids vonl lo Iacos Disco
foi Woll's dc8pcdida paily Anong lhoso piosonl voio his fiionds IauIo Sanlos and }ay Oiloga
24j


b. Thc twn ImmIgratInn chccks

Tho foIIoving day, Maich 9, 1991, Woll Iofl foi San Iiancisco, CaIifoinia, vilh his Aunl CIoiia
on loaid Unilod AiiIinos IIighl 8O8
25j
ofoio loaiding his pIano, Woll passod lhiough lho IhiIippino
Innigialion loolh al lho aiipoil lo havo his passpoil cIoaiod and slanpod Innigialion Officoi,
Ioidinand SanpoI chockod Wolls visa, slanpod, and iniliaIod his passpoil, and Iol hin pass
lhiough
2j
Ho vas Iislod on lho Unilod AiiIinos IIighls Iassongoi Manifosl
27j


On aiiivaI al San Iiancisco, Woll vonl lhiough lho US Innigialion vhoio his onliy inlo lhal
counliy vas iocoidod Thus, lho US Innigialion NaluiaIizalion Soivico, chocking vilh ils Non-
innigianl Infoinalion Syslon, confiinod Woll's onliy inlo lho US on Maich 9, 1991 Woll piosonlod
al lho liiaI lho INS Coilificalion issuod ly lho US Innigialion and NaluiaIizalion Soivico,
28j
lho
conpuloi-gonoialod piinl-oul of lho US-INS indicaling Woll's onliy on Maich 9, 1991,
29j
and lho US-INS
Coilificalion dalod Augusl 31, 1995, aulhonlicalod ly lho IhiIippino Dopailnonl of Ioioign Affaiis,
coiiocling an oaiIioi Augusl 1O, 1995 Coilificalion
3Oj


c. DctaI!s nf U.5. snjnurn

In San Iiancisco, Woll and his aunl CIoiia voio nol ly lho Iallois daughloi, Maiia Toiosa
Koano, vho lioughl lhon lo CIoiias houso in DaIy Cily,CaIifoinia

Duiing his slay vilh his aunl, Woll
nol Chiislophoi IauI Logaspi Lsguoiia, CIoiias giandson In ApiiI 1991, Woll, Chiislophoi, and a
coilain Daphno Doningo valchod lho concoil of DooIilo and in San Iiancisco
31j
In lho sano nonlh,
Doiolhy WhooIock and hoi faniIy invilod Woll lo Lako Tahoo lo ioluin lho Wolls hospilaIily vhon sho
vas in lho IhiIippinos
32j


In May 1991, on invilalion of anolhoi aunl, Susan iollnan, Woll novod lo Anahoin
HiIIs, CaIifoinia
33j
Duiing his slay lhoio, ho occupiod hinsoIf vilh pIaying laskollaII onco oi lvico a
vook vilh Slovon KooIoi
34j
and voiking al his cousin-in-Iavs posl conlioI conpany
35j
Woll piosonlod
lho conpanys Ioglook shoving lho lasks ho poifoinod,
3j
his paychock,
37j
his ID, and olhoi
onpIoynonl papois On }uno 14, 1991 ho appIiod foi a diivoi's Iiconso
38j
and violo lhioo Iollois lo his
fiiond }onnifoi Calioia
39j


On }uno 28, 1991, Wolls paionls visilod hin al Anahoin and slayod vilh lho iollnans On lho
sano day, his falhoi inlioducod Honoslo Aiagon lo his son vhon ho cano lo visil
4Oj
On lho foIIoving
day, }uno 29, Woll, in lho conpany of his falhoi and Aiagon vonl lo Rivoisido, CaIifoinia, lo Iook foi a
cai

Thoy loughl an MR2 Toyola cai
41j
Laloi lhal day, a visiloi al lho iollnans, Louis Whillackoi,
sav Woll Iooking al lho pIalos of his nov cai
42j
To piovo lho puichaso, Woll piosonlod lho IulIic
Rocoids of CaIifoinia Dopailnonl of Moloi VohicIo
43j
and a cai pIalo LLW WL
44j
In using lho cai
in lho US, Woll ovon iocoivod liaffic cilalions
45j


On }uno 3O, 1991 Woll, again acconpaniod ly his falhoi and Aiagon,
4j
loughl a licycIo
al Oiango CycIo Conloi
47j
Tho Conloi issuod Woll a iocoipl dalod }uno 3O, 1991
48j
On }uIy 4, 1991,
Indopondonco Day, lho Wolls, lho iollnans, and lho Vaca faniIy had a Iakosido picnic
49j


Woll slayod vilh lho iollnans unliI nid }uIy and ionlod a pIaco foi Ioss lhan a nonlh On
Augusl 4, 1991 ho Iofl foi Longvood, IIoiida, lo slay vilh lho spousos }ack and Sonja
Rodiiguoz
5Oj
Thoio, ho nol Ainando Rodiiguoz vilh vhon ho sponl lino, pIaying laskollaII on
vookonds, valching novios, and pIaying liIIiaids
51j
In Novonloi 1991, Woll nol poifoining ailisl
Caiy VaIonciano, a fiiond of }ack Rodiiguoz, vho vas invilod foi a dinnoi al lho Rodiiguozs
houso
52j
Ho Iofl lho Rodiiguozs hono in Augusl 1992, ioluinod lo Anahoin and slayod vilh his aunl
InoIda Iagaspas Ho slayod lhoio unliI ho Iofl foi lho IhiIippinos on Ocloloi 2, 1992

d. Thc sccnnd ImmIgratInn chccks

As vilh his liip going lo lho US, Woll aIso vonl lhiough lolh lho US and IhiIippino
innigialions on his ioluin liip Thus, his dopailuio fion lho US vas confiinod ly lho sano
coilificalions lhal confiinod his onliy
53j
Iuilhoinoio, a DipIonalic Nolo of lho US Dopailnonl of Slalo
vilh oncIosod Iolloi fion Acling Diiocloi Doloia A Iainoi of lho Rocoids Opoialions, Offico of Rocoids
of lho US-INS slalod lhal lho Coilificalion dalod Augusl 31, 1995 is a liuo and accuialo slalononl And
vhon ho loaidod his pIano, lho Iassongoi Manifosl of IhiIippino AiiIinos IIighl No 1O3,
54j
coilifiod ly
Agnos Taluona
55j
confiinod his ioluin liip

Whon ho aiiivod in ManiIa, Woll again vonl lhiough lho IhiIippino Innigialion In facl, lho
aiiivaI slanp and iniliaI on his passpoil indicalod his ioluin loManiIa on Ocloloi 27, 1992 This vas
aulhonlicalod ly CainoIila AIipio, lho innigialion officoi vho piocossod Wolls ioonliy
5j
Upon his
ioluin, in Ocloloi 1992, IaoIo Sanlos, }osoIilo Liondain Lscolai, and RafaoI }oso onco again sav Woll
pIaying laskollaII al lho I's Ihaso III laskollaII couil

c. A!IbI vcrsus pnsItIvc IdcntIfIcatInn

Tho liiaI couil and lho Couil of AppoaIs aio ono in iojocling as voak Wolls aIili Thoii ioason is
unifoin: Wolls aIili cannol sland againsl AIfaios posilivo idonlificalion of hin as lho iapisl and kiIIoi
of CainoIa and, appaionlIy, lho kiIIoi as voII of hoi nolhoi and youngoi sisloi ocauso of lhis, lo lho
Iovoi couils, Wolls doniaI and aIili voio faliicalod

ul nol aII doniaIs and aIilis shouId lo iogaidod as faliicalod Indood, if lho accusod is liuIy
innoconl, ho can havo no olhoi dofonso lul doniaI and aIili So hov can such accusod ponolialo a nind
lhal has loon nado cynicaI ly lho iuIo diiIIod inlo his hoad lhal a dofonso of aIili is a hangnans nooso in
lho faco of a vilnoss posilivoIy svoaiing, I sav hin do il` Mosl judgos loIiovo lhal such assoilion
aulonalicaIIy doons an aIili vhich is so oasy lo faliicalo This quick sloioolypo lhinking, hovovoi, is
disliossing Ioi hov oIso can lho liulh lhal lho accusod is ioaIIy innoconl havo any chanco of piovaiIing
ovoi such a slono-casl lonol`

Thoio is onIy ono vay A judgo nusl koop an opon nind Ho nusl guaid againsl sIipping inlo
hasly concIusion, oflon aiising fion a dosiio lo quickIy finish lho jol of dociding a caso A posilivo
docIaialion fion a vilnoss lhal ho sav lho accusod connil lho ciino shouId nol aulonalicaIIy cancoI oul
lho accusods cIain lhal ho did nol do il A Iying vilnoss can nako as posilivo an idonlificalion as a
liulhfuI vilnoss can Tho Iying vilnoss can aIso say as foilhiighlIy and unoquivocaIIy, Ho did il!
vilhoul lIinking an oyo

Ralhoi, lo lo accoplalIo, lho posilivo idonlificalion nusl nool al Ioasl lvo ciiloiia:

Iiisl, lho posilivo idonlificalion of lho offondoi nusl cono fion a ciodilIo vilnoss Sho is
ciodilIo vho can lo liuslod lo loII lho liulh, usuaIIy lasod on pasl oxpoiioncos vilh hoi Hoi void has, lo
ono vho knovs hoi, ils voighl in goId

And socond, lho vilnoss sloiy of vhal sho poisonaIIy sav nusl lo loIiovalIo, nol inhoionlIy
conliivod A vilnoss vho loslifios aloul sonolhing sho novoi sav iuns inlo inconsisloncios and nakos
loviIdoiing cIains

Hoio, as aIioady fuIIy discussod alovo, AIfaio and hoi loslinony faiI lo nool lho alovo ciiloiia

Sho did nol shov up al lho NI as a sponlanoous vilnoss lolhoiod ly hoi conscionco Sho had
loon hanging aiound lhal agoncy foi sonolino as a slooI pigoon, ono paid foi nixing up vilh ciininaIs
and squoaIing on lhon IoIico assols aio oflon ciininaIs lhonsoIvos Sho vas lho piosoculions voisl
possilIo choico foi a vilnoss Indood, hoi supoiioi loslifiod lhal sho voIunlooiod lo pIay lho ioIo of a
vilnoss in lho Vizcondo kiIIings vhon sho couId nol pioduco a nan sho pionisod lo lho NI

And, aIlhough hoi loslinony incIudod dolaiIs, AIfaio had piioi accoss lo lho dolaiIs lhal lho
invosligalois knov of lho caso Sho look advanlago of hoi faniIiaiily vilh lhoso dolaiIs lo incIudo in hoi
loslinony lho cIoaiIy inconpalilIo acl of Woll huiIing a slono al lho fionl dooi gIass fianos ovon vhon
lhoy voio liying lo sIip avay quiolIy~jusl so sho can acconnodalo lhis ciino scono foaluio Sho aIso
had Vonluia iunnaging a lag on lho dining lalIo foi a fionl dooi koy lhal nolody noodod jusl lo oxpIain
lho physicaI ovidonco of lhal lag and ils scalloiod conlonls And sho had Vonluia cIinling lho cais
hood, iisking loing soon in such an avkvaid posilion, vhon lhoy did nol nood lo daikon lho gaiago lo
foico opon lho fionl dooi~jusl so lo oxpIain lho daikonod Iighl and fool piinls on lho cai hood

Iuilhoi, hoi loslinony vas inhoionlIy inciodilIo Hoi sloiy lhal CalchaIian, Ioinandoz, Lsliada,
Rodiiguoz, and IiIail agiood lo lako lhoii luins iaping CainoIa is incongiuonl vilh lhoii indiffoionco,
oxonpIifiod ly ionaining oulsido lho houso, niIIing undoi a sliool Iighl, visilIo lo noighlois and
passoisly, and shoving no inloiosl in lho dovoIopnonls insido lho houso, Iiko if il vas lhoii luin lo iapo
CainoIa AIfaios sloiy lhal sho agiood lo soivo as Wolls nossongoi lo CainoIa, using up hoi gas, and
slaying vilh hin liII lho lizaiio ond vhon lhoy voio piaclicaIIy sliangois, aIso laxos incioduIily

To piovido lasis foi Wolls ouliago, AIfaio said lhal sho foIIovod CainoIa lo lho nain ioad lo
valch hoi Iol off a Iovoi on Aguiiio Avonuo And, inoxpIicalIy, aIlhough AIfaio had onIy pIayod lho ioIo
of nossongoi, sho cIainod Ioading Woll, Lojano, and Vonluia inlo lho houso lo gang-iapo CainoIIa, as if
AIfaio vas oslalIishing a ioason foi Ialoi on loslifying on poisonaI knovIodgo Hoi sving fion an
onolion of foai vhon a vonan voko up lo lhoii piosonco in lho houso and of alsoIulo couiago vhon sho
nonolhoIoss ioluinod lo locono lho Iono vilnoss lo a giin scono is aIso quilo inoxpIicalIo

UIlinaloIy, AIfaios quaIily as a vilnoss and hoi inconsislonl, if nol inhoionlIy unloIiovalIo,
loslinony cannol lo lho posilivo idonlificalion lhal juiispiudonco acknovIodgos as sufficionl lo jollison a
doniaI and an aIili

f. A dncumcntcd a!IbI

To oslalIish aIili, lho accusod nusl piovo ly posilivo, cIoai, and salisfacloiy ovidonco
57j
lhal (a)
ho vas piosonl al anolhoi pIaco al lho lino of lho poipolialion of lho ciino, and (l) lhal il vas physicaIIy
inpossilIo foi hin lo lo al lho scono of lho ciino
58j


Tho couils loIov hoId lhal, dospilo his ovidonco, Woll vas acluaIIy in Iaiaaquo vhon lho
Vizcondo kiIIings look pIaco, ho vas nol in lho US fion Maich 9, 1991 lo Ocloloi 27, 1992, and if ho did
Ioavo on Maich 9, 1991, ho acluaIIy ioluinod lofoio }uno 29, 1991, connillod lho ciino, oiasod lho facl of
his ioluin lo lho IhiIippinos fion lho iocoids of lho US and IhiIippino Innigialions, snuggIod hinsoIf
oul of lho IhiIippinos and inlo lho US, and ioluinod lho noinaI vay on Ocloloi 27, 1992 ul lhis iuIing
piaclicaIIy nakos lho doalh of Woll and his passago inlo lho noxl Iifo lho onIy accoplalIo aIili in
lho IhiIippinos Couils nusl alandon lhis unjusl and inhunan paiadign

If ono is cynicaI aloul lho IhiIippino syslon, ho couId piolalIy cIain lhal Woll, vilh his falhois
connoclions, can aiiango foi lho IocaI innigialion lo pul a Maich 9, 1991 dopailuio slanp on his
passpoil and an Ocloloi 27, 1992 aiiivaI slanp on lho sano ul lhis is puio spocuIalion sinco lhoio had
loon no indicalion lhal such aiiangononl vas nado osidos, hov couId Woll fix a foioign aiiIinos
passongoi nanifosl, officiaIIy fiIod in lho IhiIippinos and al lho aiipoil in lho US lhal had his nano on
lhon` Hov couId Woll fix vilh lho US Innigialions iocoid syslon lhoso lvo dalos in ils iocoid of his
liavoIs as voII as lho dalos vhon ho supposodIy dopailod in sociol fion lho US lo connil lho ciino in
lho IhiIippinos and lhon ioluin lhoio` No ono has cono up vilh a IogicaI and pIausilIo ansvoi lo lhoso
quoslions

Tho Couil of AppoaIs iojoclod lho ovidonco of Wolls passpoil sinco ho did nol Ioavo lho oiiginaI
lo lo allachod lo lho iocoid ul, vhiIo lho losl ovidonco of a docunonl is lho oiiginaI, lhis noans lhal
lho sano is oxhililod in couil foi lho advoiso paily lo oxanino and foi lho judgo lo soo As Couil of
AppoaIs }uslico TagIo said in his dissonl,
59j
lho piaclico vhon a paily doos nol vanl lo Ioavo an inpoilanl
docunonl vilh lho liiaI couil is lo havo a pholocopy of il naikod as oxhilil and slipuIalod anong lho
pailios as a failhfuI iopioduclion of lho oiiginaI SlipuIalions in lho couiso of liiaI aio linding on lho
pailios and on lho couil

Tho US Innigialion coilificalion and lho conpuloi piinl-oul of Wolls aiiivaI in and dopailuio
fion lhal counliy voio aulhonlicalod ly no Ioss lhan lho Offico of lho US Alloinoy ConoiaI and lho Slalo
Dopailnonl SliII lho Couil of AppoaIs iofusod lo accopl lhoso docunonls foi lho ioason lhal Woll faiIod
lo piosonl in couil lho innigialion officiaI vho piopaiod lho sano ul lhis vas unnocossaiy Wolls
passpoil is a docunonl issuod ly lho IhiIippino govoinnonl, vhich undoi inloinalionaI piaclico, is lho
officiaI iocoid of liavoIs of lho cilizon lo vhon il is issuod Tho onliios in lhal passpoil aio piosunod
liuo
Oj


Tho US Innigialion coilificalion and conpuloi piinl-oul, lho officiaI coilificalions of vhich
havo loon aulhonlicalod ly lho IhiIippino Dopailnonl of Ioioign Affaiis, noioIy vaIidalod lho aiiivaI
and dopailuio slanps of lho US Innigialion offico on Wolls passpoil Thoy havo lho sano
ovidonliaiy vaIuo Tho officois vho issuod lhoso coilificalions nood nol lo piosonlod in couil lo loslify on
lhon Thoii liuslvoilhinoss aiisos fion lho sonso of officiaI duly and lho ponaIly allachod lo a lioachod
duly, in lho ioulino and disinloioslod oiigin of such slalononl and in lho pulIicily of lho iocoid
1j


Tho Couil of AppoaIs of couiso nakos capilaI of lho facl lhal an oaiIioi coilificalion fion lho US
Innigialion offico said lhal il had no iocoid of Woll onloiing lho US ul lhal oiionoous fiisl
coilificalion vas anpIy oxpIainod ly lho US Covoinnonl and Couil of AppoaIs }uslico TagIo slalod il in
his dissonling opinion, lhus:

WhI!c It Is truc that an car!Icr CcrtIfIcatInn was Issucd by thc U.5. IN5 nn
August 16, 1995 fIndIng "nn cvIdcncc nf !awfu! admIssInn nf Wcbb," thIs was a!rcady
c!arIfIcd and dccmcd crrnncnus by nn !css than thc U5 IN5 OffIcIa!s. As cxp!aIncd by
wItncss Lcn Hcrrcra-LIm, Cnnsu! and 5ccnnd 5ccrctary nf thc !hI!IppInc Embassy
InWashIngtnn D.C., saId CcrtIfIcatInn dId nnt pass thrnugh prnpcr dIp!nmatIc
channc!s and was nbtaIncd In vIn!atInn nf thc ru!cs nn prntncn! and standard
prnccdurc gnvcrnIng such rcqucst.

Thc InItIa! rcqucst was mcrc!y InItIatcd by BID CnmmIssInncr Vcrcc!cs whn
dIrcct!y cnmmunIcatcd wIth thc !hI!IppInc Cnnsu!atc In 5an FrancIscn, U5A,
bypassIng thc 5ccrctary nf FnrcIgn AffaIrs whIch Is thc prnpcr prntncn!
prnccdurc. Mr. 5tcvcn Buchcr, thc actIng ChIcf nf thc Rccnrds 5crvIccs Bnard nf U5-
IN5 WashIngtnn D.C. In hIs !cttcr addrcsscd tn !hI!Ip AntwcI!cr, !hI!IppInc Dcsk
OffIccr, 5tatc Dcpartmcnt, dcc!arcd thc car!Icr CcrtIfIcatInn as Incnrrcct and crrnncnus
as It was "nnt cxhaustIvc and dId nnt rcf!cct a!! avaI!ab!c InfnrmatInn." A!sn, RIchard
L. Huff, Cn-DIrcctnr nf thc OffIcc nf InfnrmatInn and prIvacy, U5 Dcpartmcnt nf
JustIcc, In rcspnnsc tn thc appca! raIscd by Cnnsu! Gcncra! TcrcsIta V. Marzan,
cxp!aIncd that "thc IN5 nnrma!!y dncs nnt maIntaIn rccnrds nn IndIvIdua!s whn arc
cntcrIng thc cnuntry as vIsItnrs rathcr than as ImmIgrants: and that a nntatInn
cnnccrnIng thc cntry nf a vIsItnr may bc madc at thc NnnImmIgrant InfnrmatInn
systcm. 5Incc appc!!ant Wcbb cntcrcd thc U.5. nn a mcrc tnurIst vIsa, nbvInus!y, thc
InItIa! scarch cnu!d nnt havc prnduccd thc dcsIrcd rcsu!t Inasmuch as thc data basc
that was !nnkcd Intn cnntaIncd cntrIcs nf thc namcs nf IMMIGRANT5 and nnt that nf
NON-IMMIGRANT vIsItnrs nf thc U.5..
2j



Tho liiaI couil and lho Couil of AppoaIs oxpiossod naikod cynicisn ovoi lho accuiacy of liavoI
docunonls Iiko lho passpoil as voII as lho donoslic and foioign iocoids of dopailuios and aiiivaIs fion
aiipoils Thoy cIain lhal il vouId nol havo loon inpossilIo foi Woll lo sociolIy ioluin lo lho IhiIippinos
afloi ho supposodIy Iofl il on Maich 9, 1991, connil lho ciino, go lack lo lho US, and oponIy ioluin lo
lho IhiIippinos again on Ocloloi 2, 1992 TiavoI lolvoon lho US and lhoIhiIippinos, said lho Iovoi
couils look onIy aloul lvoIvo lo fouiloon houis

If lho Couil voio lo sulsciilo lo lhis oxlionoIy skoplicaI viov, il nighl as voII loai lho iuIos of
ovidonco oul of lho Iav looks and iogaid suspicions, suinisos, oi spocuIalions as ioasons foi inpoaching
ovidonco Il is nol lhal officiaI iocoids, vhich caiiy lho piosunplion of liulh of vhal lhoy slalo, aio
innuno lo allack Thoy aio nol Thal piosunplion can lo ovoicono ly ovidonco Hoio, hovovoi, lho
piosoculion did nol lolhoi lo piosonl ovidonco lo inpoach lho onliios in Wolls passpoil and lho
coilificalions of lho IhiIippino and US innigialion soivicos iogaiding his liavoI lo lho US and
lack Tho piosoculions iolullaI ovidonco is lho foai of lho unknovn lhal il pIanlod in lho Iovoi couils
ninds

7. Effcct nf Wcbb's a!IbI tn nthcrs

Wolls docunonlod aIili aIlogolhoi inpoachos AIfaio's loslinony, nol onIy vilh iospocl lo hin,
lul aIso vilh iospocl lo Lojano, Lsliada, Ioinandoz, CalchaIian, Rodiiguoz, and iong Ioi, if lho Couil
accopls lho pioposilion lhal Woll vas in lho US vhon lho ciino look pIaco, AIfaios loslinony viII nol
hoId logolhoi Wolls pailicipalion is lho anchoi of AIfaios sloiy Wilhoul il, lho ovidonco againsl lho
olhois nusl nocossaiiIy faII

CONCLU5ION

In oui ciininaI juslico syslon, vhal is inpoilanl is, nol vholhoi lho couil onloilains doulls
aloul lho innoconco of lho accusod sinco an opon nind is viIIing lo oxpIoio aII possiliIilios, lul vholhoi
il onloilains a ioasonalIo, Iingoiing doull as lo his guiIl Ioi, il vouId lo a soiious nislako lo sond an
innoconl nan lo jaiI vhoio such kind of doull hangs on lo onos innoi loing, Iiko a pioco of noal Iodgod
innovalIo lolvoon loolh

WiII lho Couil sond lho accusod lo spond lho iosl of lhoii Iivos in piison on lho loslinony of an
NI assol vho pioposod lo hoi handIois lhal sho lako lho ioIo of lho vilnoss lo lho Vizcondo nassacio
lhal sho couId nol pioduco`

WHEREFORE, lho Couil REVER5E5 and 5ET5 A5IDE lho Docision dalod Doconloi 15, 2OO5
and RosoIulion dalod }anuaiy 2, 2OO7 of lho Couil of AppoaIs in CA-CR CR-HC OO33
and ACQUIT5 accusod-appoIIanls Huloil }offioy I Woll, Anlonio Lojano, MichaoI A CalchaIian,
Hospicio Ioinandoz, MiguoI Rodiiguoz, Ioloi Lsliada and Coiaido iong of lho ciinos of vhich lhoy
voio chaigod foi faiIuio of lho piosoculion lo piovo lhoii guiIl loyond ioasonalIo doull Thoy aio
oidoiod innodialoIy RELEA5ED fion dolonlion unIoss lhoy aio confinod foi anolhoi IavfuI causo

Lol a copy of lhis Docision lo fuinishod lho Diiocloi, uioau of Coiioclions, MunlinIupa Cily foi
innodialo inpIononlalion Tho Diiocloi of lho uioau of Coiioclions is DIRECTED lo iopoil lho aclion
ho has lakon lo lhis Couil vilhin fivo days fion iocoipl of lhis Docision

5O ORDERED.