By AARON RECUENCO
Police Senior Master Sgt. Jonel Nuezca, the lawman in the double murder of mother and son in Paniqui, Tarlac last Sunday, had faced a string of cases since 2014.
Two of these were homicide cases last year, Police Gen. Debold Sinas, chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), said Monday.
Sinas said that the two homicide charges were just two of the five cases that were slapped against Nuezca since 2014 before the Internal Affairs Service (IAS).
“All of them were dismissed except for a case in 2016 for a less grave offense when he was suspended for 31 days,” said Sinas in a press briefing.
Among those that were dismissed, according to Sinas, were the homicide case that was filed on May 2019 and another homicide case in December also last year.
Sinas said that the two homicide cases were dismissed due to lack of evidence.
Nuezca was seen in the viral video shooting 52-year old Sonya Gregorio and her 25-year-old son Frank Anthony in the head at close range. He was also seen pumping another bullet on the head of Sonya when she fell down on the pavement.
The viral video triggered shock and anger in social media and also elicited widespread anti-police sentiments online.
Sinas said Nuezca is now under police custody and has been issued automatic leave of absence that would cut him from receiving his monthly salary and allowances.
“This time, the evidence is very strong against him that is why he was already under our custody and will be charged,” said Sinas.
Meanwhile, Malacañang condemned the killing of the mother and son, saying President Duterte won’t protect the cop over the incident.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque assured the public that the policeman would be investigated, prosecuted, and held accountable for the incident.
“Magkakaroon po ng katarungan dahil nakita naman natin ebidensya ng pangyayari. Hindi ‘yan poprotektahan ng Presidente, kinokondena natin ‘yan,” he said during an online press conference in Davao City.
Roque said the incident involving the cop would be treated as “ordinary murder cases” and not related to police service. (with a report from Genalyn Kabiling)
