Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 22) — President Rodrigo Duterte is not condoning the actions of a policeman who shot a mother and son dead in Tarlac. While he promised to stand by the police, Duterte said he will not tolerate any act not done in accordance with the law.
Dutete said Senior Master Sergeant Jonel Nuezca committed a grave offense, and from the time of his arrest until he is taken to court to answer for the deaths, there will be no bail.
“Ang pagmamahal ko sa trabaho lang natin. You do something which is…out of the ordinary, just pulling a gun and shooting people…Ikulong ninyo yon. Huwag ninyong bitawan ‘yang y**a na ‘yan,” said the President.
[Translation: My love is for the work we do. You do something which is…out of the ordinary, just pulling a gun and shooting people…Lock him up and do not let him out.]
He reminded the PNP that Nuezca “should not be allowed to go out” because of the seriousness of his offense.
Duterte commented on how Nuezca must not be right in the head after he shot 52-year-old Sonya Gregorio and her 25-year-old son Frank Anthony Gregorio.
“Isang klase lang ‘tong pulis na ‘to. May sakit ito sa utak. Topak. I’m just wondering how he was able to…nakalusot sa neuro. You could detect a person by the way he answers yung test sa neuro. T*arant*do yung g**o na ‘yon,” he said.
[Translation: This is one kind of cop. He is sick in the head. I’m just wondering how he was able to…pass neuro. You could detect a person by the way he answers questions in the neuro test.]
The President has long voiced his support for the police, and said he would back them as long as they did things right. Doing the opposite, he said, “there would be hell to pay.”
“Do your duty. Enforce the law. Your actions must be in accordance with the law. You do not follow the law, magsalvage ka, magpatay ka diyan. I’m sorry, that is not part of the agreement of how we should do our work” he said.
The President said he was shocked by the video of the incident.
“Pati ako napanganga…That’s unfair and brutal masyado. Kung ako ang nandiyan, ewan ko lang,” he said.
[Translation: My mouth fell open…That was unfair and too brutal. If I were there, I don’t know what would have happened.]
During the meeting in Davao City, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said Nuezca has gone under inquest, and a case has been filed in a Tarlac court.
“Siya po ay under the custody now of the chief of police ng Paniqui, Tarlac at sisiguraduhn po namin na talagang hindi ito makakatakas at mai-serve yung justice,” he said.
[Translation: He is now under the custody of the chief of police of Paniqui, Tarlac and we will make sure he will not be able to escape and justice will be served.]
Año said the PNP has also started an administrative case against Nuezca.
Año added what happened was an “isolated incident” and they did not tolerate such actions from the police.
The fatal shooting drew condemnation from lawmakers and the public.
Records shared by the PNP also showed Nuezca faced six cases over his last 10 years in service for grave misconduct, serious neglect of duty, refusal to undergo a drug test, an administrative case, and suspension. The two homicide cases he was slapped with in 2019 were both dismissed due to “lack of substantial evidence.”
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque is confident Nuezca will not get away this time due to the strong evidence as seen in the video.
