THE chief of police of Bato town in Catanduanes was relieved over a social media post blaming Sonya Gregorio, the woman who was shot dead by off-duty policeman Jonel Nuezca, for the shooting incident.
Police Brigadier General Ildebrandi Usana, Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesperson, confirmed on Tuesday, December 22, 2020, that Captain Ariel Buraga will be investigated according to the Philippine National Police (PNP) social media policy.
Buraga drew flak after he posted on his Facebook account that even the elderly should respect policemen.
“Lesson learn (sic) kahit puti na ang buhok o ubanin na tayo eh matuto tayo rumispeto sa ating mga Kapulisan. mahirap kalaban ang Pagtitimpi at pagpapasensya,” he posted.
"RIP Nanay and Totoy," he ended.
Asked by a netizen whether he thought it was Sonya Gregorio's fault that she was shot dead, Buraga said "yes".
Nuezca shot Gregorio, 52, and her 25-year-old son Frank Anthony, whom she was hugging, after the woman sang a line from a Korean pop song to say that she didn’t care that Nuezca is a policeman.
Nuezca then shot both mother and son again after they fell.
Gregorio was responding to Nuezca’s daughter, who had yelled at her that her father is a policeman.
The shooting incident, which happened at around 5 p.m. of December 20 in front of Nuezca’s daughter and the Gregorio family, drew public outrage and further tainted the PNP’s image.
Nuezca has been charged with two counts of murder without bail.
Buraga has deleted his post, but not before Bato Mayor Juan Rodulfo requested the PNP to relieve him.
In a new post on Tuesday afternoon, Buraga apologized and asked that netizens stop bashing him.
“Paumanhin sa mga naoffend ko sa post ko sna tigilan nyo na po ang pangbabash sa akin wala na po akong trabahong bbalikan at isang mlaking lesson ito sa akin, slamat po,” he stated.
The PNP Internal Affairs Service aims to complete the investigation against Nuezca in 30 days. Nuezca faces dismissal from the service.
Meanwhile, Police Lieutenant Colonel Noriel Rombaoa said the argument stemmed from the younger Gregorio’s use of “boga”, a prohibited firecracker.
Frank Anthony or Anton was reportedly under the influence of liquor. The altercation over the firecracker blast shifted to a previous land dispute between the two families.
Rombaoa said Nuezca was apparently trying to arrest Anton but his family members stopped him.
Rombaoa said Nuezca should have called for backup.
"Puwede naman naming kunin para puntahan at maimbestigahan kung ano ang nangyari talaga, at least maibigay nila 'yung both sides nila," he added.
Rombaoa vowed that Nuezca will be treated fairly like other criminals.
"Tama po 'yun, 'yung sinabi ng ating Senator Lacson, dapat no mercy talaga. Makikita niyo naman po 'yung nangyari sa insidente. Sino ba naman ang hindi magagalit doon sa nangyaring 'yun," he said.
"Dapat kami sa PNP, kami 'yung protector sa community... to serve and protect nga kami," he added. (SunStar Philippines)