Initial NBI probe shows Nuezca died of heart attack: DOJ

MANILA – Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said on Thursday initial inquiries by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) suggest that dismissed police officer Jonel Nuezca died of heart attack.

“The preliminary report of the NBI indicates that Nuezca died of cardiac arrest,” Guevarra told reporters.

He said laboratory and histopathological exam is underway to determine the specific cause of death of Nuezca.

Nuezca who shot to death an unarmed mother and her son during a heated argument in Paniqui, Tarlac in December 2020, died inside the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) on November 30 but the cause of his death was not immediately known.

Last August, Nuezca was found guilty of two counts of murder for killing Sonia Gregorio, 52, and her son, Frank Anthony, 25, five days before Christmas Day last year.

He was sentenced by Paniqui Regional Trial Court Branch 106 Judge Stela Marie Gandia-Asuncion to two reclusion perpetua for murder or up to 40 years imprisonment.

Nuezca, who was off-duty that time, confronted the Gregorios over the use of a “boga”, a homemade cannon that uses kerosene.

A video was taken by Sonia’s granddaughter using a mobile phone from the start of the argument until Nuezca pulled out his handgun and killed the two.

The Tarlac RTC also ordered Nuezca to pay PHP476,000 to each of the victim’s heirs for damages.