P-Noy sympathizes with Vizconde

P-Noy sympathizes with Vizconde but won't comment any further
By Aurea Calica (philstar.com) Updated December 14, 2010 04:27 PM Comments (15)

MANILA, Philippines – President Aquino today said he sympathized with Lauro Vizconde after the Supreme Court reversed the conviction of Hubert Webb and the other accused in the Vizconde massacre.

But the President and the Palace refused to comment any further, saying it would be up to the SC to explain its decision to the public.

"Initially of course we sympathize with Mr. Lauro Vizconde. I asked for a briefer to be prepared," the President said in a text message.

Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said it was not for Malacanang to comment on why the case took 19 years to be decided on with finality and why the accused were convicted.

“How they came up with the decision is entirely up to the Supreme Court to explain and let their spokesperson explain it,” Lacierda said.

“The Palace has no position one way or the other on the Vizconde case. We leave it entirely to the parties to comment on that,” he added.

Lacierda said it was irrelevant that the final ruling on the case was done under the Aquino administration.

“The case was decided based on the assessment of the justices on the appeal. So we can’t comment any further than that. Again, it’s a decision made entirely by a separate branch of government so we leave it up to them. Why it took 19 years? That’s for them to decide and not for us to comment on,” Lacierda said.



“It has no impact (on the Aquino administration) because it is, with all due respect, no relevance to the Aquino administration. It was a case that was pending even prior to the Aquino administration, even prior to the Arroyo administration. So it’s a decision of the Supreme Court based on the assessment of the facts and the evidence presented and why it took that long is for them to answer that,” he added..

Source: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=639187&publicationSubCategoryId=200