#STOPTHEKILLINGSPH

“Who do you call when police murders?”

Last December 20, 2020 many hashtags have trended in the Philippines following the viral video
of a police officer who shot a mother and her son due to alleged argument between the police and
the victims. It was done in plain sight, in their own neighborhood, in broad daylight.
Paranaque Police officer Senior Master Sergeant Jonel Nuezca faced double murder over the
death of Sonya Gregorio and her son, Frank Anthony Gregorio who were also his neighbor in
Piqui, Tarlac. His daughter also faced criticism from the netizens because of her statement, “My
father is a policeman,” that lead to the death of the victims.
According to the investigation of Rappler, the incident started when Nuezca had gone to the
Gregorios to investigate who was shooting boga---an improvised canon usually made of bamboo,
used to make noise during New Year celebrations.
The argument happened when Nuezca tried to arrest Frank Gregorio, who happened to be drunk,
and his mother Sonya resist him from arresting Frank. That heated argument lead to Nuezca
killing the two. Police Colonel Renante Cabico, director of the Tarlac Provincial Police Office,
also stated when DZBB interviewed him, that Nuezca was “off-duty” during the incident. Cabico
added that Nuezca and the Gregorios had a past argument about right of way which also
resurfaced during the investigation.
“We condemn what happened in Tarlac. That cop cannot invoke any defense that the killing is
related to his duty.” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque stated regarding the issue, “We will
investigate, file charges, try and punish that policeman -- no ifs, no buts,” he said, adding that
President Rodrigo Duterte will not protect Nuezca.
However, due to this incident, the public criticized how the government abuses impunity and
human rights over the past few years. “It took place in the context of an enabling environment
for police violence that President Duterte himself has encouraged,” Human Rights Watch deputy
Asia director Phil Robertson said in a statement.
It is also not the first time that the police were involve in a crime, according to the news report
lead by Rappler---last September of the same year, the police chief of Kawit, Cavite and 5 others
were sacked over alleged illegal arrest after Kawit cops were seen in a video forcibly dragging a
woman out of her home in front of her children.
“My father is a policeman.”
Not all police are heroes, not everyone on duty is true to their work. What happened to their
motto, “To serve and protect” if they would take the law into their own hands? The police should
be the one we will call if there’s a crime but who do we call when police murders? End police
brutality and end violence.