Public Attorney’s Office head Persida Rueda-Acosta on Wednesday said that a “high-profile” personality will intervene in the Vizconde massacre case that is on appeal at the Supreme Court after the acquittal of seven suspects in the killings.

“On Friday, there will be another special and dominant personality who will file his [motion for] intervention,” said Acosta, who declined to name the intervenor.

The PAO chief only left these clues: “He’s one of top of officials of the country, no longer incumbent. He was a public servant and a politician at the same time. He has become one of the top officials of the country.”

“I assure you, you will be surprised,” she added.

Acosta said the intervenor believes that Jessica Alfaro, the so-called star witness to the Vizconde murders, is a credible witness and that there is enough evidence to implicate Hubert Webb and his six other co-accused to the crime.

In December, the Supreme Court acquitted Webb, son of former Sen. Freddie Webb, Antonio Lejano, Michael Gatchalian, Miguel Rodriguez, Hospicio Fernandez, Peter Estrada, and former policeman Gerardo Biong.

Motion for reconsideration and double jeopardy

Acosta is the counsel for her distant relative, Lauro Vizconde, who lost his wife and two daughters to the massacre on June 30, 1991. Her office is representing Vizconde, who claimed to be an indigent or a poor litigant.

Last week, Vizconde appealed the Supreme Court’s acquittal of Webb despite a double jeopardy prohibition protecting the seven men from having their acquittal questioned.

The 1987 Constitution prohibits prosecuting an accused twice for the same crime. An acquittal can also no longer be appealed because the accused will be subjected to double jeopardy.

But last week, Acosta said Vizconde’s appeal is exempted from the double jeopardy prohibition because the Supreme Court has previously allowed the appeal of the acquittal of those involved in the 1983 killings of former Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr. and Rolando Galman.

However, Webb’s lawyer said Vizconde’s camp cannot invoke the Aquino-Galman case.

News source: GMA News
Photo Credit: Google Image

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Snow is the author behind Dear Bloggery. Married to a college schoolmate with one cute kid, Snow is balancing time with family and work to ensure sanity.