THE conviction last August 26, 2021 of former police master sergeant, Jonel Nuesca for two counts of murder is clear proof that the country’s criminal justice system is working, stresses Philippine National Police director general, P/Gen. Guillermo Eleazar.
In a statement released by Camp Crame after the verdict was read, Eleazar also said he sympathize with the Gregorio family, whose mother, Sonia, 53 and son, Frank Anthony, were gunned down by the policeman after an altercation last December 20, 2020.
The video of the incident immediately went viral and created another hail of criticisms against the PNP.
“Justice is finally served with the conviction of former police Master Sergeant Jonel Nuesca,” Eleazar said.
“Nauunawaan namin ang pakiramdam ng pamilya Dolores na hindi ito sapat sa bayolenteng pagkawala ng buhay ng kanilang dalawang kaanak subalit naipakita dito na umiiral ang hustisya sa ating bansa at kailan man ay hindi kinukunsinti ng inyong Philippine National Police ang ganitong uri ng mga pulis,” added the country’s well-loved police official.
Aside from slapping two life sentences on Nuesca or an equivalent jail time of 80 years, Judge Stela Marie Grandia-Asuncion, presiding judge, Branch 106, Panuqui, Tarlac, Regional Trial Court, also ordered Nuesca to pay the family of his victims the total amount of P852,560.00 in damages. He was already removed from the PNP last January 11, 2021, on the order of then Chief PNP P/Gen. Debold Sinas.
Nuesca was previously assigned at the PNP-Crime Laboratory and stationed at the Parañaque City Police Office at the time of the incident.
“Law enforcers thrust their lives in unimaginable zones of peril.
“Yet resort to wanton violence is never justified when their duty could be performed otherwise. A ‘shoot first, think later’ disposition occupies no decent place in a civilized society. Never has homicide or murder been a function of law enforcement,” reads part of the decision of Judge Asuncion.
In another order, Eleazar also tasked Region 3 police director, P/BGen. Val de Leon, to immediately investigate a police patrolman assigned at the 2nd Provincial Mobile Force Company based in Mariveles, Bataan, who was accused of sexually abusing a female quarantine violator last August 27, 2021.
“Kaagad kong inatasan ang Regional Director ng Police Regional Office 3, Police Brig. Gen. Val de Leon, na magsagawa ng imbestigasyon upang malaman natin ang buong katotohanan tungkol dito,” Eleazar said.
“Based on the initial report that we received, the policeman and another civilian manning a Quarantine Control Point in a barangay in Mariveles town accosted the victim for violating quarantine rules.
“The victim was then taken to the boarding house of the policeman where the two took turns in molesting the victim,” Eleazar added.
He also bared that he has already placed the suspect in restrictive custody and required him to answer the allegation against him.
“Noon pa man, mahigpit ang bilin ko sa ating kapulisan tungkol sa pagrespeto ng ating mga kababayan sa kanilang pagpapatupad ng quarantine protocols sa gitna ng banta ng COVID-19. “Walang lugar sa PNP ang mga pulis na ginagamit ang kapangyarihan na ipinagkaloob ng taumbayan para magsamantala at mang-abuso ng ating mga kababayan.
“Marami na tayong naparusahan at natanggal sa serbisyo ng mga ganitong uri ng pulis at hindi tayo titigil hanggang hindi nauubos ang mga tiwali sa aming hanay,” Eleazar emphasized.
“Makakaasa ang ating taumbayan na tutukan ko ang kasong ito at kung lumabas sa imbestigasyon na totoo ang akusasyon, tinitiyak ko sa inyo na hindi lang matatanggal sa serbisyo ang pulis na ito dahil sasampahan din natin siya ng patong-patong na kaso.”