MANILA, Philippines — The government, through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), has provided assistance to the relatives of the victims shot dead by a police officer in Paniqui, Tarlac on Sunday.
Social Welfare Undersecretary Aimee Torrefranca-Neri and Region III director Marites Maristela yesterday visited the wake of victims Sonya Gregorio and her son Frank Anthony.
According to the DSWD regional office, the family of the victims will receive financial and food assistance under the agency’s assistance to individuals in crisis situation program.
The agency did not disclose the amount of assistance provided to the Gregorio family.
Tarlac Bishop Enrique Macaraeg also ordered the local office of Caritas to provide assistance to the victims’ loved ones. “I am putting Caritas Tarlac, the social arm of the Diocese of Tarlac, at the service of the family of the victims to provide any possible assistance.” He said the twin murders were a “sin against God and against humanity.”
“Murder is not only a sin against the killed and their families. It is both a sin and a crime that cries out to heaven. Our faith assures us that this cry will reach the ears of God,” he said.
In an interview with radio dzBB, DSWD spokesperson Irene Dumlao said their field officers have also provided initial psychological intervention to those who witnessed the incident.
“The psychological support processing that we will do will not only focus on the individuals but on the entire community,” she said in English and Filipino. “They all need to be able to recover and rehabilitate as a result of this incident.”
Dumlao stressed the need to provide psychological support especially for the minors who witnessed the incident, including the 10-year-old daughter of suspect M/Sgt. Jonel Nuezca.
In the interview, she appealed to the public to spare the child from condemnation and cyberbullying.
“We need to understand that the ability of the child to control emotional impulse and to regulate her emotions is still under development at the early stage of her childhood,” she said.
“Bashing, sharing her photos and inciting further judgment will not help her as she grows up,” she added.
The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) also urged the public not to vilify the minor and instead keep in mind what would be for her best interest. – Evelyn Macairan