Solons seek House probe on killing of mother, son by cop in Tarlac

Lawmakers from the House of Representatives are calling for an investigation into the killing of 52-year-old Sonya Gregorio and her 25-year-old son Frank Anthony by Police Senior Master Sergeant Jonel Nuezca in Paniqui, Tarlac.

The six-member Makabayan bloc has filed House Resolution 1445, which calls on the Committee on Human Rights to condemn the Tarlac shooting and also investigate the continuing police brutality in the country.

"The brazen killing of unarmed civilians Sonya Gregorio and her son Frank Anthony by an armed police officer highlights the continuing violence perpetrated by state armed forces against innocent civilians. There is a need to put a stop to police brutality enabled by the culture of impunity plaguing our country," the resolution read.

The lawmakers argued the incident was not the first that members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) killed unarmed civilians.

They cited the case of retired military officer Winston Ragos, a former soldier struggling with mental illness, who was killed when a policeman shot him after he ignored orders to go home due to the implementation of the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine.

Likewise, they highlighted several cases of police brutality that were observed during the pandemic, including that of Spanish citizen whom a police tackled back in April for over alleged breach of quarantine protocols.

"It is imperative for members of Congress, as representatives of our people, defend the rights of our people and check on excesses and violations committed against them, especially in this time of crisis. Laws and rules should serve the interest of our people, and should not be weaponized to suppress their rights and oppress them," the lawmakers said.

Meanwhile, Marikina City Representative Stella Luz Quimbo filed a separate resolution to investigate the Tarlac shooting as well as to look into the PNP's current standards for evaluating the tactical knowledge and mental fitness of all its uniformed personnel.

According to Quimbo, the killings of Sonya and Frank Gregorio are symptoms of lapses in country's law enforcement system.

"Congress must act now to determine what reforms are needed to ensure that PNP personnel are of sound body and mind in the performance of their duties. Congress must also assess whether it is time to prohibit policemen from carrying guns while off-duty, as how it is in other countries," she said.

"We cannot afford to lose more lives because of impunity in the system, or the policies which lend to unpreparedness or abuse by law enforcement officials, including the use of firearms while off duty. One death is one too many," she added.

Nuezca has already turned himself in to the police and has been indicted for two counts of murder.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra has said the DOJ will ensure justice will be served. — RSJ, GMA News