Cops are out of control; Duterte enabling police violence –HRW

Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Monday said that many members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) are "out of control" after a police officer shot to death a mother and her son in Paniqui, Tarlac.

In a statement, HRW deputy director in Asia Phil Robertson said the killing by Police Staff Sergeant Jonel Nuezca of Sonya Gregorio and Frank Anthony highlighted the prevailing attitude of impunity in the PNP.

“The grim news today of a police officer in Tarlac, in the northern Philippines, shooting to death a mother and her son over a dispute about the use of a holiday noisemaker is just the latest incident to drive home this reality: many members of the Philippine police are simply out of control,” he said.

Roberson said the video of the incident is distressing to watch.

According to Robertson, Duterte has excused police misconduct and vowed to let them off the hook many times.

Roberston pointed out that the killings are an "inevitable result" of the Philippine government’s failure in holding erring law enforcers accountable.

“As with many incidents of recent police violence, the killing by Nuezca of Sonya Gregorio and her son Frank was brazen and underscores the impunity that prevails in the Philippines,” Robertson said.

“It took place in the context of an enabling environment for police violence that President Duterte himself has encouraged,” he added.

Nuezca, who is assigned at Parañaque City, shot and killed Sonya and her son Frank Anthony during a heated argument on Sunday. He is presently under the custody of the Paniqui Police.

Aside from murder, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said an administrative case would also be filed against Nuezca for his dismissal from police service.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra, for his part, said his department will ensure justice will be served in the shooting.

The Commission on Human Rights, meanwhile, also condemned the incident. — DVM, GMA News