Año: Sin of cop in Tarlac shooting not the sin of entire PNP

MANILA, Philippines — The sin of the police officer who shot dead a mother and her son in Tarlac is not the sin of the entire Philippine National Police (PNP), Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said Monday.

In a statement on Monday, Año said that the shooting incident that led to the deaths of 52-year-old Sonya Gregorio and her 25-year-old son Frank Anthony Gregorio in Paniqui town on Sunday is an “unfortunate but isolated incident.”

“While there are unfortunate incidents like this, the vast majority of our PNP personnel perform their sworn duties everyday with honor and integrity to protect and serve the people,” Año said.

“The sin of Nuezca is not the sin of the entire Philippine National Police. As we have seen during this pandemic, they place their very lives on the line as frontliners in our COVID response,” he added, referring to Senior Master Sergeant Jonel Nuezca who is the suspect in the crime.

Nevertheless, Año said the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) condemned the shooting incident involving Nuezca.

He said that the suspect, who surrendered to police on Sunday evening, has already been disarmed.

Investigation on the incident has already started, according to Año.

“The formal investigation into the incident has commenced and we assure the family and the public that the PNP and the National Police Commission will conduct a thorough, impartial, and swift investigation,” the Interior Chief said.

“The DILG will ensure that justice will be given to the family of the victims and that administrative and criminal cases will be filed against Nuezca. We do not and will never tolerate such acts and we will make sure that he will account for his crimes,” he added.

Año said he had also directed PNP chief Gen. Debold Sinas to extend assistance to the family of the victims.

“We wish to remind all police officers to remain calm at all times, to control their emotions, and to conduct themselves in a manner befitting their position as agents of the law,” he also said.

The PNP is an attached agency of the DILG.