Police Staff Sgt. Jonel Nuezca, the controversial policeman in the viral video showing how he shot a mother and son in Paniqui town of Tarlac, pleaded not guilty on two counts of murder that were filed against him, a police official said.
Brig. Gen. Valeriano de Leon, director of Police Regional Office 3, said Nuezca entered the plea during the arraignment and pre-trial of the murder charge at the sala of Judge Stella Marie Gandia-Asuncion of Regional Trial Court Branch 106 on January 7.
De Leon said Nuezca was assisted by his lawyer from the Public Attorneys Office.
Netizens were quick to post expressions of disbelief on Nuezca’s plea, citing as strong evidence the video that went viral in the social media which showed he shot at close range 52-year-old Sonya Gregorio and her 25-year-old son.
In the video, Nuezca was seen shooting Sonya in the head first a few seconds after she shouted back at his daughter who earlier confronted and yelled at her. Nuezca was then seen shooting Sonya’s son in the head before pumping another bullet into her head when fell down.
Nuezca admitted to shooting the two Gregorios to death when he was confronted by De Leon after his surrender.
Nuezca is also facing a separate administrative case, with national police chief Gen. Debold Sinas assuring the public that the police sergeant would be dismissed within one month.
Nuezca, it was learned, has already submitted a position paper on the administrative charges leveled against him before the police’s Internal Affairs Service.
De Leon, for his part, said the next hearing is scheduled on February 4. (Aaron Recuenco)