PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) chief General Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar on Friday said the conviction of rogue former policeman Jonel Nuezca not only gave the family of his victims the justice they greatly deserve but most importantly, serves as a warning to all that the PNP leadership will not condone the wrongdoings of any of its personnel.

“Justice is finally served with the conviction of former police staff sergeant Jonel Nuezca. He was already dismissed from the service long before this conviction which means that all his benefits were already forfeited,” the top cop said.

On Thursday, Judge Stella Mare Gandia-Asuncion of the Paniqui, Tarlac Regional Trial Court Branch 106 sentenced Nuezca to up to 48 years in jail for each murder count and ordered him to pay the heirs of Sonia Gregorio and her son Frank Anthony a total of P952,560 after she found the accused guilty beyond reasonable doubt.

“Nauunawaan namin ang pakiramdam ng pamilya Gregorio na ang parusang iginawad ng hukuman sa kanya ay hindi sapat sa bayolenteng pagkawala ng buhay ng kanilang dalawang kaanak. Ngunit naipakita dito na umiiral ang hustisya sa ating bansa at kailanman ay hindi kinukunsinti ng inyong Philippine National Police ang mga ganitong uri ng pulis,” Eleazar said.

The top cop said that another member of the police force, Hensie Zinampan, has already been dismissed from the service for killing his Quezon City neighbor Lilybeth Valdez last June. Just like that of Nuezca’s case, Zinampan also figured in a viral video of killing which shocked and angered the country.

“Currently, the trial for another policeman, Hensie Zinampan, in another viral video of killing in Quezon City last June is ongoing. He too was already dismissed from the service and we are confident that justice will also be served to the family of his victim Lilybeth Valdez,” Eleazar said.

“Both the cases of Nuezca and Zinampan will serve as a lesson that will constantly remind us that as police officers, we are the protectors of the Filipino people, and not their tormentors. On behalf of the men and women of the Philippine National Police, muli akong nakikiramay sa Pamilya Gregorio at Pamilya Valdez,” the PNP chief said.

Nuezca shot to death the two Gregorios last December 20 right in the presence of his young daughter after a heated argument over the use of “boga” or a homemade cannon.

In the video, Sonia could be seen wrapping her arms around her son as the row intensified until the policeman shot her in the head twice before turning his gun on Frank. Before fleeing on board his motorcycle, Nuezca, then assigned at the PNP Crime Laboratory in Parañaque, shot the mother again.

“This development on the case of PSsg Nuezca goes to show of equal justice to everyone and that the PNP does not condone any infraction or wrongdoing committed by any of its members. Any individual regardless of status must face the crimes they have committed, there is no exemption in enforcing the law,” Police Regional Office 3 director Brigadier Gen. Valeriano T. de Leon said.

Last January 11, then PNP chief General Debold M. Sinas announced the dismissal from the police force of Nueza. The official said that National Capital Region Police Office director Major Gen. Vicente D. Danao Jr. signed the dismissal papers of the rogue cop.

Sinas said he approved the dismissal of Nuezca following a recommendation from the PNP Internal Affairs Service which found the accused guilty of two counts of grave misconduct.

IAS Inspector General Alfegar M. Triambulo explained that Nuezca’s admission in his position paper that he shot the two victims also served as the basis of their recommendation for dismissal.

During his arraignment, Nuezca pleaded not guilty to the murder charges filed against him although the court rejected his argument.

The Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) led by its national president Domingo Cayosa lauded the swift action of the PNP leadership on the cases of Nuezca and Zipagan.

The IBP said that speedy justice and making Nuezca accountable after due process “is the more effective deterrence to crime and misconduct also helps restore the trust of the citizens in our police force and in our justice system.”

“We also look forward to the timely resolution of the criminal case pending before the Regional Trial Court. More than the severity of the penalty, certainty and promptness of punishment are tested antidotes to criminality,” Cayosa said.