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MANILA: Authorities in the Philippines said on Monday (December 21) that they were investigating a fatal shooting incident in Tarlac, north of the capital Manila, involving 46-year-old police officer Jonel Nuezca.
He also reportedly faces double murder charges.
In a statement, the Ministry of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said it “strongly” condemned the shooting, which killed two people allegedly neighbors of Nuezca in his hometown of Paniqui.
According to ABS-CBN News, Nuezca shot Sonya Gregorio, 52, and her son, Frank, 25, several times Sunday in an argument over an improvised cannon.
DILG secretary Eduardo Ano said that Nuezca was assigned to the Paranaque city police station, but that he had gone home to Paniqui.
“The formal investigation into the incident has begun and we assure the family and the public that the PNP (Philippine National Police) and the National Police Commission will carry out a thorough, impartial and swift investigation,” Ano said.
“The DILG will ensure that justice is done to the victims’ families and that administrative and criminal cases are brought against Nuezca.
“We do not and will not tolerate such acts and we will ensure that he is held accountable for his crimes.”
In an interview with local news network GMA, Police Chief Noriel Rombaoa said that Nuezca and the Gregorio’s were involved in a dispute over the property’s right of way.
However, witnesses reported that the shooting was caused by a confrontation by the shooting of a vogue, a type of noisemaker that is often used for revelry.
“The suspect went there to confront them, then the right-of-way problem came up and the shooting incident happened,” Rombaoa said.
A video circulating online, allegedly of the shooting, showed a man believed to be Nuezca in an altercation with two people, said to be the elder Gregorio and his son. Frank Gregorio seemed to be arguing with Nuezca, who had a girl who was believed to be his daughter standing next to him.
Nuezca’s daughter was heard shouting “my father is a policeman”, to which Mrs. Gregorio said “I don’t care.”
Nuezca then threatened to kill Ms. Gregorio before shooting her and her son at point-blank range.
Citing police reports, Inquirer said that Nuezca fled the scene on a motorcycle, but turned himself in to authorities in Pangasinan about an hour later. He also handed over the police-issued pistol he used in the shooting.
The video has sparked calls on social media to end police brutality, with #StopTheKillingsPH, #JusticeforSonyaGregorio and #PulisAngTerorista (Police are terrorists) trending on Twitter Monday.
DILG said the incident was “unfortunate but isolated.” “While there are unfortunate incidents like this, the vast majority of our PNP personnel perform their sworn duties every day with honor and integrity to protect and serve the people,” said Secretary Ano.
“Nuezca’s sin is not the sin of the entire Philippine National Police. As we have seen during this pandemic, they put their lives on the line as avant-garde in our response to COVID,” he added.
