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CHRISTMAS DUEL Florentino Gregorio, 53, mourns the death of his wife and son on Tuesday during what is supposed to be the happiest time of the year. On Sunday, just six days before Christmas, they were shot dead by an off-duty police officer over a right-of-way problem in their neighborhood in Paniqui, Tarlac province. Authorities have filed double murder charges against the officer. —MARIA ADELAIDA CALAYAG
Lawmakers on Tuesday called for reforms and a comprehensive assessment by the Philippine National Police (PNP) of 120,000 troops amid public outrage over the murder of a 52-year-old woman and her 25-year-old son in Paniqui, Tarlac province. . by an off-duty cop on Sunday.
President Rodrigo Duterte, in a national televised address Monday night, called police sergeant major Jonel Nuezca “crazy” and said the officer should remain locked up.
Nuezca, a Parañaque police crime scene investigator, shot and killed his neighbors Sonya Gregorio and her son Frank Anthony Gregorio with his M-92 9mm service pistol in Barangay Cabayaoasan, Paniqui, while people from the area watched.
Abuses and impunity
Videos of a confrontation between Nuezca and the Gregorio family and its bloody aftermath were shared on Facebook and Twitter, sparking widespread public anger against the PNP at a time when the organization of supposedly civilian but military-clad law enforcement officers of rank it was under fire from the increase in officers. abuses and impunity.
Video footage showed Nuezca shooting the mother point-blank in the head, then the son twice before shooting the mother again while lying on the ground. Then Nuezca took his jacket and helmet, and went on a motorcycle with his little daughter as if nothing had happened.
“This cop is of a different type. You have a mental problem. Crazy. And I wonder why the neuro could pass, ”Duterte said, referring to the neuropsychiatric test that police recruits must pass.
Double murder charges (or two murder charges) have been brought against Nuezca in a court in Paniqui. The prosecutor has not recommended any bail.
Duterte told the PNP to make sure that Nuezca remained behind bars.
“I’d like to call the PNP: make sure he’s in custody. He should not be allowed to leave because it is a serious offense. There is no bail. He shouldn’t be able to post bail, ”the president said.
On Tuesday, congressmen proposed solutions to problems plaguing the PNP.
Sensitivity training
Parañaque City Representative Joy Tambunting said the PNP and other law enforcement agencies should introduce “more extensive sensitivity training to deal with volatile situations” for their staff.
“Any case where the loss of an innocent life occurs at the hands of those they swore to protect is one life too many,” Tambunting said.
He said law enforcement authorities must ensure that government-issued firearms are not used to commit crimes.
Tambunting also called for a full investigation of the “absolute tragedy” in Paniqui involving Nuezca.
The representative of Davao del Norte, Pantaleón Álvarez, reiterated his call for Police General Debold Sinas, head of the PNP, to resign if he could not reform the force. Leadership failure is not acceptable, Álvarez said.
“Reorganize is not the correct term. We need to reform and fix the ranks of our police force, ”Álvarez said.
“I think it is already a psychological disorder,” he said, referring to the actions of Nuezca and those of other agents involved in the crime. “As if they felt that just because they wield that weapon they can do whatever they want. As if it were so easy to end a person’s life, ”he said.
Systemic problem
Marikina City Representative Stella Luz Quimbo agreed and emphasized that the “horrible incident points to a systemic problem in the way we prepare and evaluate those who watch over our citizens.”
“The presence of the police should give a feeling of calm, not fear. We cannot afford to lose any more lives due to impunity in the system, or policies that lead to the lack of preparation or abuse of law enforcement officials, including the use of firearms off duty. One death is too much, ”he said in a statement.
Quimbo also presented a resolution urging the House of Representatives to investigate the Paniqui murders and analyze “the implementation of current PNP policies, protocols, and rules to ensure that all its personnel possess the necessary technical knowledge and psychological aptitude and preparation in the performance of their duties, including policies on circumstances that justify the use of firearms. “
Muntinlupa representative Ruffy Biazon said that the dismissal of two misconduct cases against Nuezca in 2019 due to lack of evidence and witnesses showed the need to reform the PNP’s operational procedures on evidence collection and preservation.
In a statement, Biazon said the House may conduct an investigation to evaluate and identify specific reforms or solutions to flaws in police procedures that may require legislation.
On Monday, the Makabayan bloc in the House presented a resolution condemning the murder of the Gregorio and requesting an investigation into “continuing police brutality in the country.”
‘Instinctive reaction’
The PNP rejected any “knee-jerk reaction” to the killings that demanded reforms in the police force.
Police Brig. General Ildebrandi Usana, a PNP spokesman, said the police “would welcome any suggestions,” but insisted that Nuezca does not represent the entire police force.
“Nut is just a fallen leaf. One fallen leaf doesn’t make up the whole forest, ”Usana said.
The PNP, he said, would resist any call for change despite the outcry from its critics.
“[S]Some critics of the government are already taking advantage of this isolated incident to make [themselves] it looks good and the government looks bad. They will not prevail, ”Usana said.
The PNP, however, will respect the comments and suggestions of “well-intentioned” people, he said.
“Perhaps, we just have to seek to improve our intervention for anger management and the principles of the continuum of use of force,” he added.
The best police officer in Catanduanes fired
On Tuesday, the PNP fired Police Captain Ariel Buraga, police chief of Bato, Catanduanes province, for defending Nuezca.
In a post on Facebook after the Paniqui shootings, Buraga said that even older people should respect police officers.
A report by the mayor of Bato, Juan Rodulfo, addressed to police colonel Brian Castillo, Catanduanes police chief, led to Buraga’s dismissal.
Usana confirmed that Buraga had been fired. He said that Buraga’s comments were “disrespectful and unjustified,” and that Buraga did not speak on behalf of the PNP. –REPORTS BY JULIE M. AURELIO, LEILA B. SALAVERRIA, PATRICIA DENISE M. CHIU AND SUZENE CAJEGAS INQ
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