‘Killer cop’ may be transferred to jail soon

MANILA, Philippines — Amid the public clamor for swift justice, the Philippine National Police is still waiting for a court commitment order to transfer M/Sgt. Jonel Nuezca, who shot dead a mother and her son in Paniqui, Tarlac last week, to a jail.

Brig. Gen. Val de Leon, Central Luzon police director, said Nuezca would likely be transferred from police custody in Paniqui to a Bureau of Jail Management and Penology jail facility when the trial of the double murder case commences.

“It is likely that he will be (committed to a BJMP) facility in Tarlac so the (case) would be expedited,” De Leon said in a radio interview yesterday.

He pointed out that while the court also wants to speed up the process, the incident took place when the country was preparing for Christmas.

“All courts dream of expediting the process (in all cases)… Maybe because when this happened, it was too close to the holiday season so we can’t really blame them. Anyway, he is still incarcerated,” De Leon said in a mix of English and Filipino.

Nuezca was seen in videos taken last Dec. 20 confronting Sonya Gregorio, 52, and her son Frank, 25.

The incident ended tragically when the officer, in plainclothes, shot the pair on the head in broad daylight and in front of a crowd of witnesses – including Nuezca’s daughter who had also been filming the altercation.

The confrontation was said to have been prompted by an improvised cannon. The two families also reportedly had a previous property issue.

Nuezca has remained detained while the PNP is processing his dismissal from the service.