A member of the Rosales Municipal Police Station in Pangasinan checks the Beretta 9mm pistol of Police Senior Master Sgt. Jonel Nuezca who surrendered there for killing his neighbors Sonya Gregorio, 52, and Frank Anthony Gregorio, 25, allegedly over an argument on the use of an improvised cannon, in Paniqui, Tarlac on Sunday. Photo courtesy of Rosales MPS
MANILA (UPDATE) – Prosecutors in Tarlac on Monday found probable cause to charge Police Senior Master Sgt. Jonel Nuezca – who brutally shot to death an unarmed mother and her son in Paniqui, Tarlac – with 2 counts of murder, according to a document released by Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra.
"No need for a parallel NBI investigation. Upon inquest, the office of the provincial prosecutor of Tarlac has found probable cause to indict respondent Jonel Nuezca for two counts of murder," Guevarra told reporters in a text message.
Guevarra earlier said he was "disturbed" by the graphic video of Nuezca's shooting.
On Sunday afternoon, Nuezca shot mother and son - Sonya Gregorio, 52, and Frank Anthony Gregorio, 25, - multiple times following an argument allegedly over an improvised cannon.
As seen in now-viral videos, the murders happened after the minor daughter of the cop, who proudly shouted "My father is a policeman”, was briefly mocked by Sonya.
The policeman, who is assigned at the Parañaque City police crime laboratory, was off-duty when the incident took place. He later surrendered to police.
The Tarlac Provincial Prosecutor recommended "no bail" for Nuezca, based on the charge sheet.
Philippine National Police chief Gen. Debold Sinas earlier condemned the incident and called it an "isolated case."
Interior Secretary Eduardo Año, who oversees the Philippine National Police (PNP), said he would ensure Nuezca is charged and dismissed from the service.
PNP Spokesperson Brig. Gen. Ildebrandi Usana, in an interview on TeleRadyo, assured the public that the PNP is already looking into Nuezca's case, since his actions affect the whole agency.
"Siyempre, ang parang na-aggrieve po dito, 'yung agency, 'yung PNP na kaniya sanang nire-represent. So we will take action on this, at we will give the public as regards kung ano man 'yung action taken on this case po," he said.
(The PNP is aggrieved in this incident, the agency he is supposed to represent. We will take action on this, and we will update the public on the action we have taken.)
–With reports from Johnson Manabat and Mike Navallo, ABS-CBN News
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