IBP chief: Bashing Nuezca’s minor daughter may fall under VAWC

Bashing the minor daughter of the cop who killed unarmed civilians in Tarlac may be categorized as "violence" under the law, Integrated Bar of the Philippines President Domingo Cayosa said on Tuesday.

"Minor po iyan, so if it will amount to violence against minors, mayroon naman tayong VAWC [Violence Against Women and their Children]," Cayosa said in an interview on GMA News' Balitanghali.

"'Yung violence hindi lang ho 'yan 'yung physical violence, pwede rin hong psychological, social, emotional, or economic violence laban doon sa menor de edad," he added.

Under the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004, "causing mental or emotional anguish, public ridicule or humiliation to the woman or her child, including, but not limited to, repeated verbal and emotional abuse" is considered an act of violence.

On Sunday, Police Senior Master Sergeant Jonel Nuezca shot his unarmed neighbors in the middle of a heated argument about "boga" and right of way in Tarlac. His daughter witnessed the killing.

Victims Sonya Rufino Gregorio, 52, and her son Frank Anthony Rufino Gregorio, 25, died while the suspect eventually surrendered to the police.

Before shots were fired, the cop's daughter was heard shouting at Sonya: “Just let go. My father is a policeman!”

"Nakikiusap tayo sa publiko, sa ating mga kababayan na mag-ingat ho tayo... Totoong masama ang nangyari. Magfocus tayo doon sa evil, at kung sino ang gumawa doon. Huwag na ho tayong mandamay ng iba pa," Cayosa said.

He made this appeal as many netizens accused the cop's daughter of further triggering the already heated argument, which eventually had a bloody ending.

The Commission on Human Rights also implored the public to spare Nuezca’s child from condemnation.

“We appeal to the public to put in mind the best interest of the child also seen in the video. Vilifying the minor publicly, even posting the child's name and photos, may inflict irreparable trauma that might worsen this situation,” CHR spokesperson and lawyer Jacqueline de Guia said.

Nuezca's daughter will undergo counseling with the help of the Department of Social Welfare and Development, according to Paniqui Municipal Police Station chief Police Lieutenant Colonel Noriel Rombaoa. — BM, GMA News