Don’t generalize policemen, Palace tells public after Tarlac shooting

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Tuesday called on the public not to generalize the entire police force amid fierce criticisms brought by the killing of a cop to a mother and son in Tarlac.

“Uulitin ko po, napakalaki po ng ating Philippine National Police. By enlarge respetado po sila dahil talagang buhay ang kanilang kapital as trabaho. Huwag naman po nating lahatin,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a televised press briefing.

“Talagang walangya, bugok, gag* at talagang gusto nating batukan, hindi lang batok siguoro kinakailanagang lang dumaan sa proseso. Pero hindi naman po silang lahat ay kagaya nitong siraulong ito,” he added.

Roque was referring to Police Senior Master Sergeant Jonel Nuezca who shot to death at point-blank Sonya Gregorio and her son Frank on Sunday right outside their house in Paniqui, Tarlac after a heated confrontation.

The shooting incident was captured on video and has gone viral on various social media platforms with hashtags linked to police abuse such as #StopTheKillingsPH, #JusticeForSonyaGregorio, and #EndPoliceBrutality.

But the Palace official said the lesson of the Tarlac incident is that it would only take one erring cop to destroy the reputation of the entire institution.

“It takes only one, one of you, to destroy the integrity and reputation of the institution. Bagamat sinasabi natin sa lahat na nag-iisang bugok lang iyan  pulis na iyan, nakita naman niyo ang epekto,” he said.

Malacañang earlier vowed to deliver justice over the killings and assured that President Duterte will not protect Nuezca.

JE