A Parañaque City cop has surrendered after shooting to death his unarmed neighbors in Paniqui, Tarlac, the Philippine National Police announced today.
Senior Master Sergeant Jonel Nuezca appeared at the Pangasinan Municipal Police Station about an hour after killing 52-year-old Sonya Gregorio and her son Frank Anthony Gregorio, 25. The crime occurred after the Gregorios allegedly lit a boga (bamboo cannon), which irritated Nuezca.
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Nuezca arrived at his neighbors’ home along with his daughter at about 5:10pm. After a brief confrontation, he shot his victims using a 9 mm firearm, then fled the crime scene. The incident was captured in a video that quickly made the rounds on social media, with several Filipinos sharing clear screenshots of Nuezca and his daughter’s faces.
Lt. Col. Noriel Rombaoa, chief of the Paniqui police, told ABS-CBN News, “I think he got insulted during the argument with the son and the elderly victim. I think he (Nuezca) went crazy and that’s when he shot the victims.”
Before the incident, Nuezca and the Gregorios had a long-standing feud over their adjacent properties’ right of way. The hashtags #StopTheKillingsPH, #JusticeforSonyaGregorio, #EndPoliceBrutality, and #PulisangTerrorista (“The police are the terrorists”) are trending online today due to the incident.
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User @bananagwai blamed President Rodrigo Duterte for Nuezca’s brutality towards his neighbors.
“This is why the police is so brave when it comes to killing innocent people,” he tweeted while sharing the president’s previous statements encouraging the police force to slaughter suspects.
This is why the police is so brave when it comes to killing innocent people.#StopTheKillingsPH #EndPoliceBrutality pic.twitter.com/vZOHKOnG1i
— ًcass (@bananagwai) December 21, 2020
“We are humans but where is humanity? I saw it, I watched and I cannot stay quiet. This line is not just a business but a voice. Help me spread and remind everyone what’s humanity. Help us tell the world about equality and justice,” wrote @humanityalley.
We are humans but where is humanity?
I saw it, I watched and I cannot stay quiet. This line is not just a business but a voice. Help me spread and remind everyone what’s humanity. Help us tell the world about equality and justice. #StopthekillingsPH#CalloutforJUSTICE pic.twitter.com/f0C1wcaLtk— Humanity Alley (@humanityalley) December 21, 2020
“[W]e grew up thinking all the policemen are doing their job to give protection. [B]ut the real thing is who do we call when the police murders?” asked @sexcdior.
tw // killings, death
we grew up thinking all the policemen are doing their job to give protection.
but the real thing is who do we call when the police murders? who do we go to if even the government gives injustice judgements?
no life is a joke. #StopTheKillingsPH pic.twitter.com/0VxVG0SVsC
— ysa⁷ 🍓 (@sexcdior) December 21, 2020
