Initial findings showed that dismissed policeman and murder convict Jonel M. Nuezca may have succumbed to a heart attack last Nov. 30 at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City, Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Deputy Director General P. Chaclag said on Thursday, Dec. 2.
“Today is the scheduled autopsy po at ang initial findings ng ating medical personnel ay suspect na myocardial infarction ito. Ibig sabihin po heart attack (Today is the scheduled autopsy and initial findings of our medical personnel show that Nuesca may have suffered a myocardial infarction or heart attack),” he said during an interview over DZBB.
He said the autopsy report is expected in a few days.
Chaclag said Nuezca’s next of kin has been informed about the passing of the former policeman.
“Noong Nov. 30, nagkaroon siya ng dizziness at shortness of breath at nagpasama siya papunta sa hospital (Last Nov. 30, Nuezca asked to be taken to the hospital as he experienced dizziness and shortness of breath),” he said.
On Aug. 26, 2021, Judge Stela Marie Q. Gandia-Asuncion of Paniqui regional trial court in Tarlac found Nuezca guilty beyond reasonable doubt of the crime of two counts of murder for the deaths of Sonia Gregorio and her son Frank Anthony Gregorio.
Nuezca was sentenced to life imprisonment for each count. He was also ordered to pay the heirs of the victims in each count P100,000 as civil indemnity; P100,000 as moral damages; P100,000 as exemplary damages; P126,280 as actual damages; and P50,000 as temperate damages with interest rate of six percent per annum from the finality of the decision until full paid.
The judge cited that among the pieces of evidence presented by the prosecution was 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,” the judge said.
Also in her decision, the judge – citing a Supreme Court ruling – said: “Never has homicide or murder been a function of law enforcement. The public peace is never predicated on the cost of human life.”