MANILA – While he reiterated his love for the men in uniform, President Rodrigo Duterte took exception on Senior Master Sgt. Jonel Nuezca, whom he described as “crazy” following the latter’s fatal shooting on unarmed neighbors Sonya and Frank Gregorio in Paniqui, Tarlac on Sunday.
President Duterte admitted that he was stunned and shocked after seeing the video of the incident.
“Pati ako napanganga. That’s unfair and brutal masyado,” Duterte exclaimed during his address to the public on Monday evening. “Isa lang itong klase ng pulis na ito. May sakit ito sa utak. Topak.”
“And I’m just wondering why nakalusot ‘to sa neuro (exam). You could detect a person by the way he answers,” he added.
Duterte ordered the Philippine National Police to make sure Nuezca will face the punishment he deserves as he called on the other policemen to do their job well.
“‘Di ba sinabi ko, you do it right, I’m with you. You do it wrong, and there will be hell to pay. ‘Yun ang sinabi ko sa aking (State of the Nation Address),” Duterte said.
“Kayong mga pulis ha mahal ko kayo kasi nagta-trabaho kayo. Nakita naman ninyo kung gaano ko kayo kamahal,” he added. “I don’t think that (Nuezca) can escape the rigors of justice because nakuha sa TV (‘yung pamamaril).”
Meanwhile, Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said Nuezca cannot use the defense that he is mentally unwell to get away from conviction for his double murder case.
“‘Yung exempting circumstance on insanity, dapat wala talagang pag-iisip ng tama at mali,” Roque said in a virtual presser on Tuesday. “Pagdating dito, siya ay sumusweldong pulis. Siguro alam niya na mali ang gamitin ang baril ng gobyerno para sa personal na away.”/PN
