Sinas: Tarlac shooting does not reflect PNP’s ‘policies’

(FILE) PNP chief Gen. Debold Sinas.
INQUIRER FILES/NIÑO JESUS ORBETA

MANILA, Philippines — The controversial police murder of a mother and her son in Tarlac does not reflect the Philippine police force’s policies to serve and protect the public, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Debold Sinas said on Monday.

“The PNP considers this an isolated act of criminality that does not reflect the PNP’s policies and practice,” Sinas said in a statement, reacting to the Police Senior Master Sergeant Jonel Nuezca’s killing of Sonya Gregorio and Frank Anthony Gregorio.

“In no way will such an incident affect the sworn duty of the 221,000 police personnel to serve and protect our people. Our organization remains committed to carry out our mandate and we will always be ready to selflessly provide our people the services that they deserve from their Philippine National Police,” the nation’s top police official added.

Sinas, likewise, sent his condolences to the victims’ family, adding that PNP will ensure justice will be served.

“The PNP leadership strongly condemns to the highest order the criminal act committed by one of our police personnel that had gone viral. Words are not enough to assuage the feelings of the bereaved family of the victims, Mrs Sonia Gregorio and her son, Frank. But we assure them and the Filipino people that justice will be served,” he said.

The PNP Internal Affairs Service will also conduct a summary hearing case against Nuezca, Sinas also noted.

“Likewise, an investigation will also be conducted by the PNP Internal Affairs Service. I have further directed the IAS to ensure the quick resolution of the summary hearing case against PSSg [Nuezca] for my approval of his immediate dismissal from the service,” he said.

In a police report, Nuezca, who is assigned at the Parañaque City Police Crime Laboratory, went to the house of the victims on Sunday afternoon where he shot them point-blank.

Nuezca will be facing appropriate criminal and administrative cases over the murder incident.

In 2019, he faced cases of grave misconduct for homicide but was dismissed for lack of evidence.