Nuezca demoted in 2014 for robbery-extortion: DILG

The Napolcom found that Nuezca and the other respondents failed to submit corroborating evidence to support their claim that they performed a valid warrantless arrest. (File Photo: Paniqui Municipal Police)

MANILA – The Department of the Interior of Local Government (DILG) confirmed on Thursday that Master Sgt. Jonel Nuezca, the policeman involved in the double murder of mother and son Sonya and Frank Anthony Gregorio over an altercation in Paniqui, Tarlac, was demoted for a grave misconduct complaint filed in 2014.

In a news release, DILG Undersecretary and spokesperson Jonathan Malaya said the National Police Commission (Napolcom) en banc, chaired by Secretary Eduardo Año issued the decision on October 21, 2020, imposing the penalty of one-rank demotion to Nuezca for robbery-extortion.

The order has been issued by the Napolcom Central Office.

Malaya said the complainant alleged that on Mar. 8, 2014, at around 3 a.m., the complainant’s son was on his way home on board a tricycle when respondents, Nuezca and some fellow police officers, forced her son inside a police vehicle.

The tricycle driver was instructed to follow the said vehicle to the police station located at C-5, Taguig City.

At the police station, respondents threatened the complainant’s son and the tricycle driver that they would be charged for having in their possession a knife and illegal drugs.

Upon learning that her son was in police custody, complainant immediately went to the precinct where she was able to talk to then Nuezca who demanded PHP40,000 for the release of her son and the tricycle driver.

Desperate to help her son, she asked for more time and at around 10 a.m., relatives of his son and the tricycle driver went to the police precinct with PHP10,000.

Malaya said during the case hearing, this was denied by the respondents, including Nuezca, who claimed that they were patrolling the area when they arrested the complainant’s son and the tricycle driver for being “out of line” and they recovered a deadly weapon and a sachet with white powdery substance.

They claimed that they performed a valid warrantless arrest.

“After a careful evaluation of the evidence on record, the Commission En Banc ruled that the prosecution met the required quantum of proof required to establish the culpability of the respondents. It bears stressing that the allegations in the complaint were not specifically refuted by respondents,” Malaya said.

The Napolcom found that Nuezca and the other respondents failed to submit corroborating evidence to support their claim that they performed a valid warrantless arrest.

“In that regard, no evidence of a valid arrest was ever submitted by respondents. In fact, there was neither booking sheets nor records in the blotter book presented which can prove that there was indeed a valid warrantless arrest on the persons of complainant’s son and the tricycle driver,” the Napolcom resolution read.

Meanwhile, Nuezca is in the custody of the Chief of Police of Paniqui, Tarlac for the killing of the Gregorios.

He is facing two counts of murder lodged at the Regional Trial Court, Branch 67 of the same town.

The PNP Internal Affairs Service also said it will fast-track the dismissal of Nuezca from the police service.