Palace vows justice for Tarlac shooting victims, says Duterte won’t protect cop
MANILA, Philippines — No ifs, no buts. Malacañang on Monday vowed to deliver justice over the grisly killing of a 52-year-old woman and her son by a police officer in Tarlac.
In a televised press briefing, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the police, identified as Police Senior Master Sergeant Jonel Nuezca, cannot use as defense the fact that his actions were done in the line of his duty.
“Hindi po ito service-related na double murder. Ito po’y isang away na di umano tungkol sa pag-posisyon sa lupa. Ang pulis pong iyan ay hindi pwedeng mag-invoke na kahit anong depensa na may kinalaman sa kanilang tungkulin ang pagpatay na iyan,” Roque said.
“Ito po’y tatratuhin na ordinaryong murder cases,” he added.
The Palace official likewise assured that President Duterte will not protect the cop.
“Iimbestigahan, kakasuhan at lilitisin po natin ang pulis na iyan. No ifs, no buts. Magkakaroon po ng katarungan dahil kitang kita naman po natin ang ebidensya ng pangyayari. Hindi po iyan po-protektahan ng Presidente. Kinokondena po natin iyan,” Roque said.
Sonya Gregorio and her son Frank, 25, were shot by Nuezca on Sunday outside their house in Paniqui, Tarlac. The shooting was captured on video and has gone viral on social media with netizens using #StopTheKillingsPH and #JusticeForSonyaGregorio.
The police chief of Paniqui said the two parties were involved in a property dispute but the shooting incident stemmed from the alleged firing of “boga” or PVC-based noisemaker by the Gregorios.
