Missing Vizconde accused not fictional, says De Lima

MANILA, Philippines—One of the two missing accused in the Vizconde massacre case is not fictional after all.

Justice Secretary Leila De Lima confirmed that they already received information that Joey Filart is in the United States.

“I have ordered the NBI to verify his whereabouts. We are studying his possible extradition,” De Lima said.

Lawyer Jose Flaminiano said that they have made several verifications on the identity of Filart and they have concluded that he does not exist.

“Now we know that he is a real person, it means there are still supposed participants in the crime,” De Lima said.

While the NBI still has no information on the other missing accused Artemio “Dong” Ventura, De Lima said “we want to know why these two had to flee and why were there no efforts to track them down.”

She said the Supreme Court’s decision of acquittal only applies to Hubert Webb, Antonio Lejano II, Michael Gatchalian, Miguel Rodriguez, Peter Estrada, Hospicio “Pyke” Fernandez and Gerardo Biong. (report from Tetch Torres, Inquirer.net)