MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday night admitted being shocked when he watched the viral video of the killing of a mother and son by a police officer in Paniqui, Tarlac, describing the policeman as “may sakit sa utak” (crazy) and the incident as “too brutal.”
In his weekly message to the nation, Duterte reminded policemen to only act in accordance with the law.
“You do not follow the law, mag-salvage ka, mag-patay ka, then I’m sorry. That is not part of our agreement on how we should do our work,” Duterte said.
The President, who has promised law enforcers of protection as long as they kill in the line of duty or when their lives were put in harm’s way, said that the shooting incident is only an isolated case.
“Isa lang itong klase ng pulis na ito. May sakit ito sa utak. Topak,” he said.
Sonya Gregorio and her son Frank were shot by Police Senior Master Sergeant Jonel Nuezca on Sunday outside their house in Paniqui, Tarlac, after a heated confrontation.
READ: Cop shoots dead a mother and her son in Tarlac
The shooting incident was captured on video, which has gone viral on various social media platforms with the hashtags #StopTheKillingsPH, #JusticeForSonyaGregorio, and #EndPoliceBrutality.
Duterte, a lawyer, said Nuezca will not be able to escape the consequence of his criminal act as it was captured on video.
“I don’t think that you can escape the rigors of justice because nakuha sa TV. Pati ako napanga-nga…That’s unfair and brutal masyado,” he said. / KGA