Año appeals vs. generalizing police force, says 99% of cops still doing their mandate

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año on Wednesday maintained that the majority of policemen in the country are still true to their mandate of serving and protecting the people.

Interviewed on Dobol B sa News TV, Año reacted to the public's generalization of policemen following the killing of a mother and her son in Paniqui, Tarlac, by a policeman during a heated argument.

The tragic incident, caught on video, sparked public outrage on police abuses. But as for Año, a former military general, 99% of policemen across the country are still doing their duties.

"Bakit natin sinabing isolated case? Kasi ang nangyayari kasi gine-generalize nila 'yung mga pulis natin. Papaano naman 'yung matitinong pulis natin? 99% na matitino na sila 'yung nagpapatupad ng quarantine protocols, sila 'yung nakikipaglaban sa kriminal, sila 'yung talagang mga sa Facebook tinitingnan mo," Año said.

"Maraming magagandang deeds kahit hindi on official duty ang ating kapulisan kaya it's not fair naman na sasabihin mo bakit ang pulis natin... isa lang 'yan eh, nakakulong na 'yan," he added, referring to Police Master Sergeant Jonel Nuezca, the policeman who shot dead Sonya Gregorio and her son Frank Anthony.

Año maintained that the shooting incident in Paniqui was an isolated case, noting that such acts will never be tolerated by the government.

"The sin of Nuezca is not the sin of the entire Philippine National Police. As we have seen during this pandemic, they place their very lives on the line as frontliners in our COVID response," Año had said.

The gruesome killing of the unarmed mother and son was only the latest in a string of crimes and abuse of power allegedly perpetrated by police officers.

Nuezca, who has expressed deep regret over the incident, was already indicted for two counts of murder. He is already in police custody after surrendering in Pangasinan hours after the incident.  —KBK, GMA News