An off-duty police officer in the Philippines shot dead at point-blank range his elderly female neighbor and her son at the height of their heated altercation over a "right-of-way" in Paniqui, Tarlac, news reports said Tuesday.
Police Staff Sgt. Jonel Nuezca of the Parañaque City Crime Laboratory later turned himself in to the authorities after he shot in the head 52-year old Sonya Rufino Gregorio and her 25-year old son, Frank Anthony. Nuezca surrendered his Philippine National Police-issued 9mm Beretta pistol that he used in the killing.
The shooting incident was recorded on a cellphone camera and has since gone viral on social media. In the clip, the woman was heard taunting "I don't care, eh eh eh eh eh..." (in reference to a song by the Korean girl group 2ne1) to the policeman, which infuriated him. Before shooting her in the head, the policeman was heard saying, "tapusin na kita" ("I'll finish you off").
Authorities said the police officer confronted Anthony over the loud noise caused by an improvised pipe cannon or "boga" and an ongoing land dispute between the two families. The altercation happened inside the premises of the Gregorio clan.
The mother came to the aid of her son by wrapping her arms around her son to stop him from being taken away by Nuezca. Nuezca's left hand grasped the pants of Anthony while his other hand held a pistol as Anthony resisted and yelled: "P--ang ina mo!" (equivalent to the "F" word in English) at the policeman.
After shooting the old woman, the officer shot Anthony in the temple as the suspect's daughter took videos of the confrontation using a cellphone.
The policeman was shown firing another bullet at the woman as she slumps lifeless on the ground. He also put another bullet to Anthony's head as he fell.
The viral video could still be viewed on Facebook as of midday Tuesday Asia time.
Nuezca is facing double murder charges without bail.
The cold-blooded murders have prompted an outcry and renewed calls for reform in the country's police force.
Nuezca has figured in at least six administrative cases prior to his killing of Gregorio and her son. Two of those cases were of grave misconduct involving homicide. Both cases were dismissed for "lack of substantial evidence," authorities said.
After watching the video, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte ordered authorities to make sure the policeman will never get out of jail. In the local dialect, Duterte said: "The guy is crazy and one of a kind. Feed him COVID in prison."
