MANILA, Philippines — Police officers should turn in their issued firearms when they are on off-duty status, Senator Panfilo Lacson said Monday as he urged the Philippine National Police (PNP) to “show no mercy” to the policeman who shot dead a mother and her son in Tarlac.
“If what’s on video tells the whole story, I enjoin the Philippine National Police leadership to show no mercy. They should spare no effort to make sure that he rots in jail. He’s the last policeman that they need in the force,” Lacson, a former PNP chief, said in a statement.
“As a policy recommendation, policemen should turn in their issued firearms to their unit’s armorer or supply officer when on off-duty status. That said, they should not be issued Permits to Carry Firearms Outside Residence (PTCFOR) while still in the active service,” he added.
Lacson made this suggestion following the death of 52-year-old Sonya Gregorio and her 25-year-old son Frank Anthony Gregorio, who were shot dead by Senior Master Sergeant Jonel Nuezca in Paniqui town on Sunday.
Lt. Col. Noriel Rombaoa, chief of Paniqui Municipal Police Station, said the suspect and the victims had a confrontation prior to the crime and that they had been involved in a land dispute regarding right of way.
Following this incident, Lacson said the PNP should always uphold its motto, which is “To Serve and Protect.”
“That includes taking appropriate steps to protect our people from scalawags in their ranks, whether they are on duty or not,” he added.