THE policeman who shot dead Sonya Gregorio and her son Frank Anthony during an altercation on December 20, 2020 in Paniqui, Tarlac has pleaded not guilty to murder charges.

Central Luzon Police Regional Office Director Valeriano de Leon said dismissed policeman Jonel Nuezca entered a plea of not guilty during his arraignment on Friday, January 8, 2021.

“Sa ngayon nasa custody pa rin s’ya ng Bureau of Jail Management and Penology,” De Leon said in a telephone interview Sunday, January 10.

The first hearing of the case has been set for February 4, 2021.

Nuezca shot point-blank the mother and son, who were his neighbors, in front of their relatives late afternoon of December 20.

The incident, which was caught on video that went viral on social media, drew public outrage and prompted Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Debod Sinas to order Nuezca's dismissal from the service.

Nuezca surrendered to the town police in Rosales, Pangasinan on the same day. (Third Anne Peralta-Malonzo / SunStar Philippines)