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- Bato town’s chief of police got called out by netizens as a screenshot of his post about the Paniqui killings went viral.
- In the now-deleted post, he stated that the reason the mother and son were killed because they didn’t respect the police.
- He, later on, defended his post and said that he will not apologize for it as he meant no malice.
Bato Town, Catanduanes’ chief of police was blasted online after he posted a commentary about the recent news of a policeman killing an unarmed mother and son in Paniqui, Tarlac.
In a now-deleted Facebook post, Police Captain Ariel Buraga said that it’s a “lesson learned” that even though we are old, we should respect policemen.
“Lesson learn[ed na] kahit puti na ang buhok o ubanin na tayo eh matuto tayo rumespeto sa ating mga kapulisan. Mahirap kalaban ang pagtitimpi at pagpapasensya,” he wrote on his post.
“RIP Nanay and Totoy.”
A commenter then asked him if he was meant to say that it was the mother and son’s fault why they were shot and he replied yes.
WTF. He is, allegedly, the Chief of Police of Caramoan.#StopTheKillingsPH #EndImpunity #JusticeforSonyaGregorio #JUSTICEFORFRANKGREGORIO pic.twitter.com/VeIWuqAMhE
— DeeDee Marié Holliday #DragIsNotACrime (@DeeDeeMarieH) December 21, 2020
When asked about the issue, Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesperson Police Brigadier General Ildebrandi Usana stated that individual reactions do not represent those in the position of the agency.
“Any individual reaction from a police officer is not viewed as speaking for the position of the organization in public discourses,” he stated.
He added that the PNP also has a policy regarding the police officer’s use of social media.
The video of Sonya Rufino Gregorio and her son Frank Anthony Rufino Gregorio’s killings went viral online. The policeman who shot them was identified as Police Senior Master Sergeant Jonel Nuezca.
Witnesses stated that Nuezca and the two victims had an argument before he shot them to death.
When asked about his post, Buraga then said that it was not meant to blame the victims and he was just pointing out that if there is respect, it would’ve to lead to a different outcome.
“Hindi ko sinisisi ‘yung mag-ina doon. Ang point ko doon is kawalan ng respeto kaya umabot sa ganoong punto, siguro kung may respeto sila sa bawat isa, hindi siguro hahantong sa ganoong pangyayari,” he said.
“Kung nagkaroon ng respeto sa pangyayaring ‘yun, hindi natin alam kung ano ang kuwento doon sa pangyayaring ‘yun. Ang nakikita ko lang kasi sa time na ‘yun, sa scenario na ‘yun, ‘yung kawalan ng respeto sa pulis. Sila magkakapit-bahay sila doon alam nila pulis ‘yung ano na ‘yun…”
He then added that he’s actually condemning Nuezca’s actions.
When asked about how Frank Anthony was supposedly rude, Buraga said that he was insisting to act unruly and that he’s not even wearing a shirt.
“Yung lalaki diba ‘yung nakahubad, inaawat na nga sila noong pulis, gusto pa rin niyang magwala. Sinasabihan ‘yung pulis na ‘porket may baril ka…”
Buraga said that he will not apologize for his post as he doesn’t mean any malice.
Bato Mayor Juan Rodulfo issued a memo to PNP suggesting for them to replace Buraga as the Chief of Police in the area.
“Much as we respect his right to publicly pronounce his personal opinion regarding the killings, he should have exercised restraint and prudence in doing so considering that he is the Chief of Pulice in this LGU,” it said.
Yo about to lose yo job pic.twitter.com/doAJPwettK
— Malacañang Events and Catering Services (@MalacananEvents) December 21, 2020
Another policeman posted on Facebook saying that she would do the exact same thing if she saw someone poking fun at her child.
Another police officer who thinks she can do anything. How can we trust them?#EndPoliceBrutality #EndImpunity #StopTheKillingsPH #justics #JUSTICEFORFRANKGREGORIO pic.twitter.com/9GuMyRGEYq
— DeeDee Marié Holliday #DragIsNotACrime (@DeeDeeMarieH) December 21, 2020
President Rodrigo Duterte previously advised enforcers to shoot people right away as soon as they commit mistakes. He also ordered them to bring their permanent-issued short firearm even if they’re off-duty.
Tarlac police chief Police Colonel Renante Cabico confirmed that Nuezca was off-duty on Sunday, December 20. The same day he shot the mother and son dead.
