Lacson says killer cop should ‘rot in jail’

Senator Panfilo Lacson said Monday the Philippine National Police should “show no mercy” to the police officer who shot dead his mother and son neighbors during a heated argument yesterday.

The “killer cop,” identified as Police SSgt. Jonel Nuezca shot Sonia Rufino, 52, and her son Frank Anthony Rufino, 25, in the head at Purok 2, Brgy. Cabayaoasan in Paniqui, Tarlac.

ADVERTISEMENT

“If what’s on video tells the whole story, I enjoin the PNP leadership to show no mercy,” Lacson, a former PNP chief, told ABS-CBN News in a text message.

“They should spare no effort to make sure that he rots in jail. He’s the last policeman that they need in the force,” he said.

Lacson noted that Nuezca, assigned to the Parañaque City Crime laboratory, was not on duty when he committed the crime.

ADVERTISEMENT

“As a policy recommendation, policemen should turn in their issued firearms to their unit’s armorer or supply officer when on off-duty status,” the police chief-turned-senator said.

“That said, they should not be issued a Permit to Carry Firearm Outside Residence for their personal firearm while still in the active service,” he said.

Lacson says killer cop should ‘rot in jail’

“In other jurisdictions, surrendering officially issued firearms while off duty is a standard practice by police officers.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Lacson emphasized that “leadership” affects the behavior of police officers.

“I would say, based on my own experience, leadership plays a major role in the behavior and attitude of the rank and file,” he said, without specifying if he was referring to the PNP leadership or the President, who is considered as the commander-in-chief.

“Never too late for the PNP to consider applying this policy, especially when self-discipline is not exactly a virtue among some policemen,” he said, without naming police officials.

The shooting came after PNP chief Debold Sinas ordered them to skip the practice of taping the muzzles of their service firearms as a preventive measure against indiscriminate firing.

Sinas said the tape would not stop cops from firing their guns if they really wanted to and that the tape could affect how the police officers respond to incidents.