(Photo courtesy of Police Regional Office-3)
MANILA – Senator Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go on Monday denounced the killing of a mother and son by a police officer in Tarlac as he vowed justice for the victims.
"Mariin kong kinokondena ang brutal na pagpatay ng pulis sa mag-inang Sonya at Frank Gregorio sa Paniqui, Tarlac kahapon. Hindi natin palalampasin ito. Nakikiramay ako sa mga naulilang pamilya. (I condemn this brutal killing by a policeman of Sonya and Frank Gregorio of Paniqui, Tarlac. We will not allow this to go unpunished. We extend our condolences to the family
Go also assured that President Rodrigo Duterte and his office would provide assistance in any form to the kin of the victims and that the perpetrator of the "senseless crime" would be brought to justice.
"Nananawagan ako sa ating otoridad na siguraduhing mabubulok sa kulungan ang taong ito at malinis dapat ang hanay ng kapulisan upang matanggal ang mga bulok sa sistema (I call on the authorities to ensure that this person would rot in jail and the ranks of our policemen be cleaned of scalawags)," he added.
While stressing that they are supportive of the Philippine National Police (PNP), Go said the government will not tolerate any abuse of law enforcers.
"Ang pulis ngayon ay ginagalang at nirerespeto. Malayo na po ang narating natin upang ibalik ang dignidad ng kapulisan at mas lalong paigtingin ang kakayahan nila na gampanan ang kanilang tungkulin. Buo po ang aming suporta ni Pangulong Duterte sa mga pulis. Full support po kami sa kanila basta in line of duty at kung ginawa niyo po ang trabaho ninyo bilang isang pulis na poprotekta sa kapakanan ng nakakarami. Pero hindi natin hahayaan na may mga mapang-abusong tulad nito na sisira sa mga reporma na ipinaglalaban natin. (We respect our policemen. We have gone far in bringing back the dignity and capability of our law enforcers. I join President Duterte in his support for the police. Our full support is ensured as long as they do well in the line of duty and to protect the greater good. We will not allow abusive policemen to taint the reforms we have achieved),"
On Monday, murder charges have been filed before the Paniqui, Tarlac Regional Trial Court against Senior M/Sgt. Jonel Nuezca of Barangay Cabayaosan, Paniqui, Tarlac.
Assistant Provincial Prosecutor Manuel M. Pascua. Jr. ordered the filing of the murder charges following the incident that led to the death of Sonya Gregorio and her son Frank Anthon, which was captured on video and has gone viral on social media.
No bail was recommended by the prosecutors for Nuezca.
Nuezca, based on records from the Philippine National Police (PNP), has faced several cases in the past.
These include two homicide charges in May and December last year, which were both dismissed for lack of substantial evidence.
A case for serious neglect of duty against him for failing to attend court hearings as a prosecution witness in a drug case was also dropped in 2016.
In 2014, he was suspended for 21 days due to less grave neglect of duty for refusing drug tests and leaving the testing area without permission. (PNA)
