Nuezca appealing for help for his family, Central Luzon police chief says

Police Master Sergeant Jonel Nuezca, the cop who shot dead his neighbors in Paniqui, Tarlac, has requested the police to provide assistance for his family, the chief of the Central Luzon police said Thursday.

In a phone interview with GMA News Online, Police Brigadier General Valeriano De Leon said Nuezca wants to ensure the safety of his family while he is detained and that he wants help regarding his "service."

De Leon admitted that he somehow got irked with Nuezca's request.

"'Yung kaligtasan ng pamilya at saka 'yung kanyang serbisyo kaya medyo nagalit ako nang kaunting-kaunti lang dahil alam mo 'yung ginawa niya tapos bibigyan ko raw ng chance? So kaya sabi ko, paano ako tutulong?" De Leon said.

Asked to elaborate what Nuezca meant when he appealed for help regarding his police service, De Leon said that for him, Nuezca made a general statement.

"That is his plead na nagmamakaawa para tulungan so it's a very general statement na tulungan kasi alam naman niyang mapipiit na siya sa kulungan at saka 'yung sa pamilya niya," De Leon said.

De Leon said he told Nuezca, a police assigned at the Parañaque City Police's Crime Laboratory, that many are furious at him for killing unarmed mother and son Sonya and Frank Anthony Gregorio.

"Let him realize that mayroon kang ginawa, you should be answerable to your actions," De Leon said. "Lahat ng tao nagagalit sayo."

De Leon, meanwhile, said police would help the family of Nuezca by providing them with proper intervention following the tragic incident. They would also help the family to still communicate with the detained cop.

"Marami, siyempre kuwan din, how also to communicate itong mag-aama kasi wala na they are left in the air," De Leon said.

Regrets crime committed

A video posted by the Central Luzon police showed the conversation between De Leon and Nuezca.

Nuezca reiterated that he regrets the crime he committed.

"Nagsisisi po ako sa ginawa ko, Sir... laking pagsisisi po," he said. "Sana matulungan niyo ko... para sa pamilya ko na lang, Sir."

De Leon told Nuezca that he dragged the entire police force with his action.

"Paano kakainin noon, pano mag-aaral 'yun kung matatanggal ka sa serbisyo? Tatanggalin ka talaga namin sa serbisyo. You drag the entire organization. Parang aso lang na ano na pumatay ng tao... at the height of your anger..." De Leon said.

In broad daylight, the policeman, who faced criminal and administrative cases in the previous years, shot the Gregorios after a heated confrontation last Sunday.

Nuezca surrendered to the Rosales Municipal Station, hours after the incident.

De Leon said Nuezca, a native of Urdaneta, had a brother in Rosales so he decided to surrender there.

Nuezca was indicted for two counts of murder. 

De Leon said Nuezca remains at the Paniqui Municipal Police Station pending a court order regarding his custody. — RSJ, GMA News