Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Sunday expressed optimism that government prosecutors will be able to secure a conviction against Police Senior Master Sergeant Jonel Nuezca for the cold-blooded murder of a mother and her son in Paniqui, Tarlac last December 20.
“Our prosecutors are waiting for the court’s order setting the arraignment of the accused (Nuezca), subject to the court’s calendar,” Guevarra said in message to reporters.
“We intend to terminate this case and obtain a conviction for double murder as quickly as possible,” Guevarra added.
The Department of Justice’s prosecutor recommended no bail for Nuezca when it filed the criminal information before the Paniqui regional trial court for the killing of Sonia Gregorio, 55, and her son, Frank Anthony, 25.
The Paniqui RTC Branch 67 is expected to conduct its first hearing on Monday, January 4.
The criminal complaint filed with the RTC alleged that Sonia was shot twice at the back of her head. The first shot was fired “while the victim was embracing her son and the second shot was made when she already fell on the ground.”
In the case of Frank Anthony, the charge sheet stated that he was shot “at his head, while defenseless as he was then being embraced by his mother.”
“Upon determination of the validity of respondent’s arrest, the inquest proceeding ensued based on the affidavits and supporting documents and evidence submitted, there is probable cause to charge the respondent for two counts of murder,” the DOJ resolution ruled.
Guevarra earlier said that the DOJ “will closely monitor developments in this case and ensure that justice is done.”
In other developments, Guevarr also assured on Sunday that the DOJ is working towards the speedy resolution of the criminal case filed against policemen involved in the killing of four member of the Philippine Army in Jolo, Sulu last June.
Guevarra said the DOJ-National Prosecution Service vowed to resolve the immediate resolution of the case and bring to justice the perpetrators behind the killing of four Army intelligence soldiers, namely: Major Marvin Indammog, Cpt. Irwin Managuelod, Sgt. Jaime Velasco Jr., and Cpl. Abdal Asula.
“In any event, the DOJ will ensure the speedy trial of the Jolo case and obtain justice for the slain army soldiers,” Guevarra said.
National Prosecution Service Prosecutor General Benedicto Malcontento earlier said that a resolution on the case may be rendered this month by Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Gilmarie Fe Pacamara who is handling the preliminary investigation of the case.
Last July 21, the National Bureau of Investigation, in behalf of the families of the four Army soldier-victims, filed before the DOJ four counts of murder and planting of evidence against the respondents Police Senior Master Sergeant Abelzhimar Padjiri, Police Master Sergeant (PMSg) Hannie Baddiri, Police Staff Sergeants (PSSg) Iskandar Susulan and Erniskar Sappal, Police Corporal (PCpl) Sulki Andaki, and Patrolman (Pat) Moh Nur Pasani all of Jolo Municipal Police Station (MPS); and PSSg Almudzrin Hadjaruddin, Pat Alkajal Mandangan and Pat Rajiv Putalan of the Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit (PDEU)-Sulu.
The NBI also recommended that neglect of duty under the Doctrine of Command Responsibility be filed against the Sulu Police Provincial Director Police Colonel Michael Bayawan Jr., PDEU-Sulu chief Police Captain Ariel Corcino and Jolo Municipal Police Station chief Police Major Walter Annayo.
Philippine National Police chief General Debold Sinas had asked the DOJ to speed up the filing of criminal charges against the policemen.
Sinas reportedly said that the police officers have to be released to their families within 10 days if no arrest warrant would be issued against them and the respondent policemen would not appeal their dismissal.
Nine of the policemen are currently under restrictive custody at the PNP Custodial Center at Camp Crame and Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año is finding a way to keep them in police custody.