Negrense netizens have expressed their outrage after a policeman was caught on video killing an unarmed elderly mother and her son on Sunday, December 20, at Paniqui, Tarlac.
The video, that was making rounds on social media today, December 21, detailed how the confrontation between neighbors led to the killing of Sonya Gregorio, 52, and her son, Frank Anthony Gregorio, 25.
Senior Master Sergeant Jonel Nuezca, 46, who was assigned at the Parañaque City Police Crime Laboratory, went to the house of the victims following a noise complaint, which quickly escalated into a heated argument.
As seen in the video, the mother held her son tightly to prevent him from confronting the policeman, whose minor-daughter also joined the commotion.
The policeman asked the victims if they want him to finish them off, then he pulled the gun and shot them in the heads at point-blank range.
When the two victims fell to the ground, he shot them again, as seen in the video.
This happened in front of the policeman’s minor daughter.
Nuezca then fled from the scene, but after more than an hour, he surrendered to the authorities and turned over his issued firearm that was used in the killing.
He will be charged with double murder.
#JusticeforSonyaGregorio and #StopTheKillingsPH hashtags trended on Twitter in the Philippines.
OUTRAGE
Netizens over the DIGICAST NEGROS Facebook page condemned the killing of the unarmed victims.
One netizen said that the policeman “obviously doesn’t have respect to his duty as a policeman, to the PNP (Philippine National Police) whose badge he is carrying, to human life and no fear of the possible consequences of his action (maybe because he have a padrino). What a shame.”
Another commented, “wise policeman will never resort to fire a gun unless fired upon…he needs brain check.”
One resident said, “Mayo lang kay na videohan, what if kon wala bi, will justice prevail? (it’s good that somebody took a video. What if there was no video, will justice prevail?)”
Another said: “Kung sana sa mahinahon mo dinaan, normal pa sana buhay mo ngayon. Nasa huli ang pgsisisi. (If you handled things in a calm manner, your life right now would still be normal. Regret is always at the end). Sad, that your daughter is following in your footsteps…..bad influence!”
“I want to see his regrets, cries and hear him scream begging for forgiveness, the real deal of pain…poor little child, proud pa naman sya sa father nya (she’s proud of her father), but the sad truth is, she’s following the footsteps of his father…obviously, hindi napalaki ng maayos ng magulang (she was not raised well by the parents),” one netizen said.
Others commented that the policeman was an animal and a demon, another said he was a disgrace to his fellow policemen.
They also called for justice for the victims.
Meanwhile, the Bacolod Youth Alliance is leading a donation drive for the family of the victims.*