MANILA, Philippines —The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on Monday urged the public to cease from vilifying or threatening the daughter of Police Senior Master Sergeant Jonel Nuezca – the cop who killed a mother and her son in Tarlac on Sunday.
In the now-viral video of the incident, Nuezca’s daughter was seen verbally arguing with victim Sonya Gregorio moments before her father pulled the trigger and killed Sonya and her son Frank Anthony Gregorio.
According to CHR Spokesperson Atty. Jaqueline Ann de Guia, the people should refrain from publicly criticizing the daughter since she is still considered a minor and a member of the vulnerable sector.
“Alam po natin syempre meron din pong pagkakamali yung bata sa nangyaring insidente, kaya lang rin kailangan isaalang-alang na bata pa rin po, kailangan ng protektsyon,” she said in a radio interview over DZBB.
(We know that the child was also wrong, but we have to remember that she is still a minor and in need of protection.)
“We are urging the netizens and public to stop condemning because she also needs support, eventually intervention and guidance rin po. Yung bata naman pino-protektahan natin kasi parte ng vulnerable sector,” she added.
(We are urging the netizens and the public to stop condemning because she also needs support, eventually intervention and guidance. We are protecting the child because she is part of the vulnerable sector.)
De Guia added that the incident – witnessing and being exposed to a gruesome killing – will cause a lot of trauma to the child. She said the child would require a lot of psychosocial and psychological support.
“Meron dapat intervention na ibigay ang estado. She will have to go to psychological and post-traumatic debriefing sessions and intervention,” De Guia stated.
(The state should provide intervention. She will have to go to psychological and post-traumatic debriefing sessions and intervention.)
“Kailangan din ng pag rally as publiko not to add pain to the child. [Y]ung pagkalat ng mukha niya sa social media hindi tama yun. Let’s remember she’s a minor. Let’s blur her face. At the same time, sana di siya subjected to discrimination or bullying,” she added.
(The public should not add pain to the child. It is not right that her face is making rounds on social media. Let’s remember she’s a minor. Let’s blur her face. At the same time, we hope that she will not be subjected to discrimination or bullying.)
She explained that the child or the child’s family could ask CHR for support if they will receive threats or feel like their rights are being violated.
“Bukas ang CHR sa lahat ng tao whether biktima ka wheter suspect ka. Ang human rights kasi it pertains to everyone. Yun yung di naiintindihan ng publiko pag lumapit samin ang suspect,” she clarified.
(CHR is open to everyone, whether you are a victim or a suspect. Human rights pertain to everyone. That is what the public does not understand whenever a suspect comes to our office.)
“Pag lumapit ang suspect sa amin, for example, hindi namin sinasabi na itolerate natin o wag na natin siya patawan ng parusa kasi kawawa naman siya. Hindi ganon. Ang ginagawa ng CHR sa ganoong pagkakataon, tinitignan lang, for example, ang act of torture na ginawa sa kanya. Kaya lang yung pagpapanagot sa kaso na hinain sa kanya hindi natin yun pinapakeelaman ang satin lang ay kung ano yung tama,” she continued.
(When a suspect comes to us, for example, we are not saying that we should tolerate or he or she should not be punished because we pity him. The CHR does in this kind of situation because we look for the act of torture that is being done to the suspect. We will not tamper with the cases filed against the person.)