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Monday, September 25, 2023

How about those that were not filmed?

4 min readThe pre-holiday season has been welcomed by bloodshed; a policeman on Sunday shoots two people in broad daylight in front of many witnesses, even in front of his own daughter.
Profile picture of Christian Patrick Laqui

Published almost 3 years ago on December 21, 2020

by Christian Patrick Laqui

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Unlike the 1984 James Bond movie, this man was no agent nor a hero, but a common barbarian who's been motivated by impunity.

The pre-holiday season has been welcomed by bloodshed; a policeman on Sunday shoots two people in broad daylight in front of many witnesses, even in front of his own daughter.

The officer, Police Senior Master Sergeant Jonel Nuezca, shoots two persons, namely, Sonya Gregorio, 52, and Frank Anthony Gregorio, 25. The tensions heated when Nuezca heard explosions from bamboo cannons (​boga​) and went to the victims' house to arrest them. Later on, the tensions were brought up into a land dispute not related to the firing of the bamboo cannons.

The argument resulted in Nuezca purposely shooting Sonya and Frank at their heads twice. With the happening, social media was on full volume making ​#StopTheKillings​ and #EndPoliceBrutality​ trending since yesterday.

The killings were recorded by one of the family members, which has been posted and shown on all media platforms.

The police acted on this barbaric act because it was filmed. This leaves us the question, what about the ones who are not filmed? ​Nanlaban nga ba talaga sila?

If not filmed, the possible narrative on why they were killed may be --- ​adik yung anak, nanlaban ang ina,​ just like what happened with ​Kian delos Santos​ on the evening of August 2017 when the police said "nanlaban siya.​"

We make noise because it was filmed, but hopefully, we also howl for those unfilmed victims with their souls crying for justice unheard.

A child calling for blood? Or also a victim of bad parenting?

"My father is a policeman," Nuezca's daughter shouted, telling Sonya to let go of Anthony for him to be arrested.

With it, Sonya replied with lyrics of "I don't care," a song of a K-pop group, 2ne1.

"I don't care ​eh eh eh eh eh,​ " Sonya's last words before she was shot to death by Nuezca.

The people call for the crucifixion of the kid, for the damage that she has taken part in.

"​Natuto mag english pero hindi alam ang tama sa mali?,​ " netizens said.

The first section of Article 4 of the revised penal code defines criminal liability "to be incurred by any person committing a felony although the wrongful act done be different from that which he intended". In the case of ​People v. Ural​ (G.R.No. L-30801, 1974) its rationale is found in the doctrine that "el que es causa de la causa es causa del mal causado" (he who is the cause of the cause is the cause of the evil caused.)

This could make the daughter also liable for murder being an accomplice or accessory of the crime. But as we know, the daughter cannot be penalized because she's a minor.

Some say the daughter is a victim of terrible parenting. In the video, it is seen that the daughter is used to seeing barbaric acts. It looks like it is usual for her to see such atrocities and deemed it normal.

In another ​video​, she is being seen involved by pulling the hair of one of the victims.

The kid growing in a ferocious and impunitive environment caused by parents is a danger for her and for the people around her. These characteristics will be tolerated and will be normal that may affect how the kid sees the world.

However, it is not enough for the child to be counseled for what she had seen and done. There should be a way to remove the instilled beliefs into her that was culminated by impunity tolerated within the household.

For it is not only the father who shaped the mind of the child but an entire nation of enablers of impunity.

She was made to believe that the culture of impunity is acceptable. Not just because her father indoctrinated her with his antics, but because the people around them tolerated it.

Abolish the PNP?

In an ​article​, Bayan-Muna representative Teddy Casiño has described PNP as "a chronic violator of human rights" and the "biggest criminal syndicate in town."

With great power comes great responsibility, being to "serve and protect" comes with the responsibility of self-control and upholding the rule of law. But unfortunately, their motto doesn't translate to their actions.

The PNP has made ​efforts​ to clean its mess under the rug. There had been some efforts in strengthening its checks and balances, but eventually, these efforts were futile.

Casiño radically suggested firing all officers from the senior superintendent up to director general. However, firing them would be futile if these problematic deep-seated systems of the police force will create a new breed of corrupt officers.

Just like how it is to rationally solve problems, one has to find its roots to solve them. Abolishing the PNP dismantles the institutionalized mafia and its corrupt structures that make them.

This could pave the way to creating a new police force with new structures and policies that are just and humane, extirpating the culture of impunity, preventing it from where it is getting now.

The rampant, extra-judicial killings, red-tagging, and blatant corruption of the PNP have been funded by our own taxes. The benefits that they enjoy have always been provided by the people they should protect and not terrorize. Squandering our taxes and disregarding our human rights should make us reflect on the question, do they really serve and protect?

Just like what we do, if a thing is already useless to us and brings us harm, we throw it away. It is the police that should work hard for justice, and not trample it.

2NE1's song shall haunt us forever

We will never hear the lyric " I don't care ​eh eh eh eh eh,​ " the same again.

For what was once a song full of happiness and upbeat vibes will now go on to be an anthem of retaliation that culminated in an unnecessary bloodshed.

The lyric will remind us of brazen abuse of power, and a cold-blooded murder that happened in broad daylight.

People will sing it not with energy and a smile on their faces, but in rage and struggle from its enabler-in-chief who tolerated and motivated such barbaric acts.

From now on, it will not be just a lyric nor a regular phrase coming from a K-pop group, but it will be remembered as the last words of retaliation that fought an entire culture of impunity from the top all the way down.

Dismantling a bastardized institution does not always need a reformer. Sometimes, it just needs one voice to shake every foundation that holds it dear.

Extrajudicial killings

#StopTheKillings

#EndPoliceBrutality

Profile picture of Christian Patrick Laqui

Christian Patrick Laqui

Reports Editor

Christian Patrick Laqui, also known as “Ian”, was the former Reports Editor of TomasinoWeb. Ian wrote about various matters, including the 2022 national elections, University student politics, activism, church, appointments and special awards, and human interest stories. He is currently a freelance journalist chasing stories on religion, human interests, justice, and politics.

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