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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Lawyers' group cites social media's role in murder conviction of dismissed cop

Lawyers' group cites social media's role in murder conviction of dismissed cop

Published Aug 27, 2021 09:58 am

Free Legal Assistance Group

Social media may have played a role in the conviction of a dismissed policeman for the killing of a woman and her son during an altercation in Tarlac last December.

“Isipin din natin ang papel ng social media: kung di nag-viral ito, would we get justice (Just think of the social media’s role: had not the video gone viral...)?” read the latest social media post of Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG) Chairman Jose Manuel “Chel” I. Diokno.

Last Aug. 26, Judge Stela Marie Q. Gandia-Asuncion of the Paniqui (Tarlac) regional trial court (RTC) Branch 106 promulgated a decision which found dismissed Police Staff Sgt. Jonel Nuezca “guilty beyond reasonable doubt” of the two counts of murder for the Dec. 21, 2020 killing of Sonia Gregorio and her son Frank Anthony Gregorio.

Nuezca was sentenced to two jail terms ranging from 20 to 40 years each. He was also ordered to pay damages.

Before the charges were filed, a video of the incident that was taken on a mobile phone became viral online and caught the attention of the public as well as the government.

“Mahalaga yung ganitong vigilance sa pagsiguro na aandar ang justice system natin—pero hindi sapat ito (This kind of vigilance is important so that our justice system will move, but this is not enough),” Diokno pointed out.

“Kailangang ayusin yung sistema (We have to correct the system),” he stressed.

“Isipin natin: ilang Nuezca pa ang malaya, at ilan pa ang makakalusot dahil di maayos ang justice system natin (Just think: how many more are still free, and how many more will get away because of the problems in the justice system)?” he asked.

Among other pieces of evidence, Judge Asuncion – in her decision – cited the presentation by the prosecution of the mobile phone video recording of the incident that went viral online.

“Witness Allyza Kate Calosing, the person who took the video, was presented as witness of the prosecution. The witness testified and identified, fully explained and authenticated the video recording she made,” Asuncion said.

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