A second look at the Vizconde Massacre

December 15, 2010 – Philippines, After two decades of seeking for justice, the Vizconde Massacre still has a tight emotional grip on Filipinos. After the Supreme Court upturned the murder conviction of Hubert Webb and six others on December 14 and the world witnessed a weak and inconsolable Lauro Vizconde.

Many Filipino gave their insights on the case result; some of them aired their support for Vizconde and his continuing quest for justice. While some opinion is divided over Webb’s innocence, many agreed that 15 years in jail is too short for a guilty man — and too long for an innocent man.

If we will do a records search on this case, the said massacre happened on June 30, 1991 at their house in BF Homes, Parañaque City, Philippines. It was a multiple homicide of the Vizconde Family.

Findings:

Estrellita (47 years old) - suffered thirteen stab wounds

Carmela (18 years old) - seventeen stab wounds and had been raped before she was
killed

Jennifer (7 years old) - nineteen stab wounds.

Mr. Lauro Vizconde the father was in the United States by that time when the murder took place. It was a sensational story and the media had a field day. An anti-crime group was formed which launched a media barrage and the public lapped it up. Background checking the accused persons, they all came in a popular and influential families. Suspects are Hubert Webb, Antonio Lejano II, Hospicio Fernandez, Michael Gatchalian and Miguel Rodriguez. The case was unsolved for almost four years until a witness Jessica Alfaro appeared and testified against these persons. They were convicted by a lower court and the Philippine Court of Appeals but now acquitted by the Philippine Supreme Court.

Still with all the people affected it is more painful for Mr. Vizconde who says that he was “puzzled” and “disgusted” at how the Supreme Court reversed a ruling that has been affirmed by a local court and the Court of Appeals. He also said that now that the Supreme Court acquitted all the accused in this case, they should do their part to help him find the real killers to prove that the people they had acquitted were really innocent.

“I no longer expect justice in the laws of man. But I believe that in the end God will judge those who are lying and those who are saying the truth.” He wished the Webb family luck, saying Hubert and the six others were “fortunate" that “circumstances favored them."

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Pride of Alaska: Story of Caleb Aronson

Caleb Aronson was a singer-songwriter, unlike usual artist he was raised in North Pole. All of his song writing reflects a uniquely Alaska background.Linvengood(2005) was his first solo double album recorded entirely in Alaska which consist a lot of songs about Alaska history. His second album, From the Next Town was released in 2008.

Aronson began playing music around 15, this just happen when he borrowed a guitar to his dad and started to listen to his Dad’s record collections. He says “Looking at music was eye opening”, as he describes studying the written Harvest sheet music while listening to the album and learning to play the songs. His focus on songwriting over the years has led to recognitions from the Rasmuson Foundation (Aronson received an Individual Artist’s Award) and American Songwriter Magazine.

After three years living in Boston, Aronson returned to Alaska in 2009. He says it feels great to be back! If we will do a background check about Caleb Aronson, with his success outside Alaska still he didn’t forgot where he really came from. He is really an artist to be idolized and Alaska to be proud of!

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Vietnam takes action: The Police Shooting Prostitution

December 07, 2010 – Vietnam authorities demoted five police officers because of the accusation of filming the arrest of two prostitutes after the video was posted in the internet.

According to Vietnam press the said incident occurred around mid-November in which a man wearing blue shirt and yelling repeatedly used of vulgar words against two girls. It is said that the two girls tried to cover themselves but it was the duty to stand up and raised their hands to their capture.

People find it easy to search it on the internet after it was posted and being spread which made public discontent. In this act a police spokesman said that the Quang Ninh provincial police officers were disciplined for ethical violations. Three of them were down two levels; two were down a level and a person that transferred.

Colonel Nguyen Quoc Tien, chief police Cam Pha town, Quang Ninh said that the officers were seriously violated in the process work. Field recording can be used as evidence to investigate, but police have vulgar words, arrested prostitutes arms do not stand clothes to take pictures as "behavior is unacceptable." This was the words quoted by the Press which will serve as a warning to many police officers who misused their authority power.

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DPR fails to conduct Background Checks

December 1, 2010 - The D.C Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) which no longer operates child care centers under the program, failed to meet basic background check requirements.

A D.C government agency which received $1 million a year which is use to provide child care services under the federal head program failed to conduct background checks on its employees which includes workers who has previous cases of drug and other felony offenses. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Investigators said that a total of 43 employees failed to meet basic background check.

According to the report, the workers includes six DPR drivers who have been disqualified from working with children because of their past offenses like kidnapping, assault with deadly weapon and possession of marijuana and cocaine with intent to distribute. According to a Security Expert conducting background and criminal check on employees is not a problem to the city agency. All they have to do is to submit the names of their employees with their social security number to a background check company out there which is not a problem because of dozens of companies which offers the same service.

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