‘Disturbed’ by Tarlac shooting video, Guevarra vows justice for victims

MANILA, Philippines — Disturbed by the video of the grisly shooting of a 52-year-old mother and her son in Tarlac by a police officer, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said on Monday that he will ensure that “justice is done” for the victims.

In a message to reporters, Guevarra said that the Department of Justice will closely monitor the developments of the murder cases to be filed against Police Senior Master Sergeant Jonel Nuezca, who is already under police custody.

“I am disturbed that altercations like that in the subject incident could suddenly lead to deaths of persons. As soon as the local police has filed the appropriate charges, the prosecutor’s office will conduct a preliminary investigation to determine probable cause,” Guevarra said in a message to reporters.

“The DOJ will closely monitor developments in this case and ensure that justice is done,” he added.

The justice secretary said a preliminary investigation will be held regarding the incident.

Initial investigation showed that the suspect arrived in the house of victims Sonya Gregorio, 52, and Frank Anthony Gregorio, 25, and after a brief confrontation, shot them point-blank using a 9 mm 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 of social media and has now become viral, showing the suspect’s face.

According to Lt. Col. Noriel Rombaoa, chief of Paniqui MPS, 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.

“Bago ‘yung pamamaril, nag-ugat ito sa pagpapaputok ng boga malapit po sa place ng bahay ng mga biktima kasi itong suspect po at mga biktima ay magkapit-bahay lamang. So itong suspect natin ay pumunta doon sa bahay ng biktima para sitahin ‘yung nagpapaputok then nadatnan niya doon ‘yung isang biktima at nagkasagutan sila, ‘yung lalaki,” he said over ABS-CBN’s Teleradyo on Monday.

(Before the shooting, there was someone who used boga near the place of the victims’ house. The suspect and victims are neighbors. So the suspect went to the house of the victims then he saw one of them, the male one, and they had a confrontation.)

EDV