DNA specimen in Vizconde case no longer with NBI

The DNA specimen instrumental for the possible reopening of the Vizconde massacre case is no longer in the possession of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), a bureau official said Tuesday. According to deputy director for technical services Reynaldo Esmeralda, they had turned over the semen specimen to the Parañaque Regional Trial Court, which tried the case, years ago. The semen specimen was taken from victim Carmela Vizconde, which was reportedly raped before being killed along with her mother Estrellita and six-year old sister Jennifer Vizconde in their Parañaque home on June 29, 1991. Nine people were convicted in the case, including Hubert Webb, son of former Senator Freddie Webb. The Supreme Court last week granted Webb’s long-standing request to conduct DNA analysis and present forensic evidence for examination to bolster his own defense. It ordered the NBI to assist in the examination of the specimen.

In a five-page compliance report, Esmeralda said the specimen was submitted as evidence to the Parañaque RTC by then NBI Medico Legal chief Prospero Cabanayan MD when he testified on direct and cross examinations. He said they do not know if the court was able to preserve the specimen. “We cannot speculate, but as far as the NBI is concerned, it is properly turned over and these are placed three glass slides and there was cover slip." NBI Medico Legal chief Dr. Florencio Arizala said when the vaginal smears were taken from Carmela’s private parts in 1991, the NBI is not yet familiar with the medical principle of DNA analysis, or that it could be used to identify the owner of the sperm. He said the vaginal smears were merely taken to determine if Carmela was indeed raped. “While semonology is almost perfect science, still, in sperm pooling, we cannot determine how many different sperms are there. We can only differentiate human spermatozoa from that of the animal. But with the DNA testing, it can be established how many different sperms and who may own these," he said. Based on the testimony of star witness Jessica Alfaro, it was Webb who raped Carmela. Webb and his eight co-accused were convicted on January 6, 2000 and sentenced to life imprisonment. The conviction was affirmed by the Court of Appeals on December 15, 2005. - KBK, GMANews.TV