Pacquiao asks public: Don’t judge the whole PNP; show them trust
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Manny Pacquiao called on the public not to judge the entire Philippine National Police (PNP) force after one of its officers shot dead an unarmed mother and her son in Tarlac.
In a statement, Pacquiao expressed beliefs that there are more policemen who are unlike Police Master Sergeant Jonel Nuezca, the suspect in the death of Sonia Gregorio and her son Frank Anthony last Sunday.
“Nanawagan ako sa ating mga kababayan: Huwag po nating husgahan ang ating buong PNP dahil sa ginawa ni Nuezca. Naniniwala ako na mas marami pa ring matitinong pulis at itong si Nuezca ay isa lamang sa mangilan-ilang bulok sa kanilang organisasyon,” Pacquiao said.
(I call on our countrymen: Let us not judge the entire PNP for what Nuezca did. I believe there are more good policemen and Nuezca is only one of the few rotten members of the organization.)
Instead, Pacquiao said the public should show its trust towards the police force.
“Sa halip na kamuhian ang ating mga pulis ay tulungan po natin sila upang maramdaman nila ang pagmamahal at pagkalinga ng mga mamamayang kanilang pinagsisilbihan,” Pacquiao said.
(Instead of hating our police, let us help them so they can feel the love of the constituents they serve.)
“Ipakita natin ang ating tiwala nang sa ganun ay suklian nila ito na mas tapat na paglilingkod sa ating bayan,” the senator added.
(Let us show them trust so that they can exchange it with honest service to our country.)
Nonetheless, Pacquiao expressed hopes that the death penalty would be given another shot to hasten justice for victims of heinous crimes.
Initial investigation showed that the Nuezca arrived in the house of the Gregorios and after a brief confrontation, shot them point-blank using a 9mm firearm at around 5:10 p.m. Sunday.
Police said the suspect fled the crime scene onboard a motorcycle after the incident. However, a video of the incident made the rounds on social media and has now become viral, showing the suspect’s face.
According to Lt. Col. Noriel Rombaoa, chief of Paniqui Municipal Police Station, the shooting incident happened after a confrontation between the suspect and the victims over the firing of a “boga,” a noisemaker usually made of PVC pipe or bamboo for revelries.
Following the shooting incident, many netizens expressed concerns over police abuse, saying that there are also many cases of brutality that—unlike the Gregorio case—that were not caught on camera. [ac]
