Malacañang has condemned the killing of two civilians by a policeman in Tarlac, saying President Duterte won't protect the cop over the incident.
(PCOO / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque assured the public that the policeman would be investigated, prosecuted, and held accountable for the incident.
"Magkakaroon po ng katarungan dahil nakita naman natin ang ebidensya ng pangyayari. Hindi 'yan poprotektahan ng Presidente, kinokondena natin yan (There will be justice because we have seen the evidence of the incident. The President will not protect him. We condemn the incident)," he said during an online press conference in Davao City.
Roque said the incident involving the cop would be treated as "ordinary murder cases" and not related to police service.
"Lilinawin ko lang na hindi ito service-related na double murder. Ito po ay kung hindi tayo nagkakamali ay isang away tungkol sa pag-posisyon sa lupa. So ang pulis na yan hindi pwedeng mag-invoke ng kahit anong depensa na may kinalaman sa kanyang katungkulan ang pagpatay na iyan (I'd like to make it clear that this double murder is not service-related. If I am not mistaken, it involved a fight over a land. So the policeman cannot invoke his performance of duty as his defense for the killing)," he said.
"Ito ay tatratuhin na ordinaryong murder cases at iimbestigahan, kakasuhan, lilitisin, at paparusahan po natin ang pulis na yan. No ifs or buts (This will be treated as ordinary murder cases. We will investigate, prosecute, and penalize the policeman. No ifs or buts)," he added.
Police Senior Master Sgt. Jonel Nuezca reportedly shot dead two people in Paniqui, Tarlac Sunday afternoon. The two victims have been identified as 52-year-old Sonya Gregorio and her 25-year old son Frank Anthony Gregorio, both residents of Barangay Cabayaoasan.
Nuezca, assigned at the Crime Laboratory based in Parañaque City, surrendered to authorities shortly after the shooting.
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