President Rodrigo Duterte watches footage of the Tarlac shooting. (Photo by Sen. Bong Go)
President Rodrigo Duterte was enraged over the brutal killing of a mother and her son by a cop in Paniqui, Tarlac, Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go said on Monday.
“Galit din si Pangulo sa nangyari,” Go, an aide of Duterte, said in a message to reporters.
In a Palace briefing, Duterte’s spokesman Harry Roque said Police Sr. Master Sgt. Jonel Nuezca, the cop who shot dead Sonya Gregorio and Frank Gregorio just outside their home, would not receive any form of protection from the president.
“Ang pulis pong iyan ay hindi pupuwedeng mag-invoke ng kahit anong depensa na may kinalaman sa kaniyang katungkulan ang pagpatay na iyan at ito po’y tatratuhin na ordinaryong murder cases at iimbestigahan, kakasuhan, lilitisin at papaparusahan po natin iyang pulis na iyan,” he said in a virtual presser.
“Hindi po iyan puprotektahan ng presidente, kinukondena po natin iyan,” the Palace spokesman added.
Tarlac Provincial Police Office Director Col. Renante Cabico said Nuezca and his 13-year-old daughter showed up at the Gregorio residence to ascertain who was firing a boga, a noisemaker made of PVC pipe or bamboo that produces a cannon-like rumble when fired.
They argued over the noise and an old dispute over right of way, he said.
The Philippine National Police Region 3 chief, Brig. Gen. Val de Leon, said two counts of murder would be filed against Nuezca. John Ezekiel J. Hirro, with reports from Harvey Custodio