Police vow airtight case vs. Nuezca, say witness will 'most likely' let video be used as evidence

Police are still coordinating with witnesses regarding the evidence that will be used against Police Master Sergeant Jonel Nuezca, the cop who fatally shot an unarmed mother and son in Paniqui, Tarlac over the weekend.

Central Luzon police chief Police Brigadier General Valeriano de Leon told GMA News Online that authorities want to build an airtight case against Nuezca and that it will be better if witnesses, including the one who captured the video of the incident, will cooperate.

"'Yan 'yung challenges ng mga imbestigador on how to come-up with an airtight case so we can readily submit that kaya lang it would be better kung pati 'yung mga kumuha will also cooperate," De Leon said in a phone interview.

In a separate conversation, Paniqui Municipal Police Station chief Police Lieutenant Colonel Noriel Rombaoa expressed confidence that the witness who captured the incident would allow the video to be used as evidence against the cop.

"Nakausap na natin, wino-workout pa namin pero most likely papayag sila," Rombaoa said.

Earlier, Philippine National Police chief Police General Debold Sinas disclosed that the witness was hesitant to testify in court.

“Kakausapin pa namin ‘yong ibang witness doon sa video kasi ‘yong sa video ay gagawan namin ng paraan na sana i-accept ‘yon as evidence so ‘pag na-accept ‘yon as evidence, malakas talaga ‘yong kaso against kay Nuezca,” Sinas had said.

“Kasi sa ngayon hindi pa ‘yon na-offer as evidence dahil ‘yong kumuha at saka may-ari ng video ay parang alanganin pa,” he added.

Meanwhile, De Leon said Nuezca requested the police to provide assistance for his family and help regarding his "service."

"'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?" he said.

Nuezca shot dead Sonya Gregorio and her son Frank Anthony in broad daylight during a heated argument over "boga" and right of way.

The cop was indicted for two counts of murder and is under the custody of the Paniqui Municipal Police Station.

Sinas condemned the incident but he noted that it was an isolated case and that it does not reflect the PNP's policies and practices.

The PNP chief said he already apologized to the Gregorio family when he visited the wake last Tuesday.

"Pumunta po ako doon para po makiramay po at of course humingi po ng sorry [sa] nangyari doon sa kanila, pangalawa po i-update po sila sa progress ng investigations at para malaman nila na ang PNP po, ako na lalo, ay di po magto-tolerate sa ginawa po ni Nuezca..." Sinas told ANC.—AOL, GMA News