Nuezca’s daughter to undergo counseling; Gregorio’s husband pleads with public to stop bashing the child
Police Senior Master Sergeant Jonel Nuezca’s daughter is set to take counseling after witnessing the murder of Sonya and Frank Gregorio in Paniqui, Tarlac on Sunday, Dec. 20.
In the viral video chronicling the incident, the cop’s daughter, a minor, can be heard shouting at Sonya, “Just let go. My father is a policeman!” The 52-year-old mother yelled back at the kid before Nuezca pulled the trigger twice on her head and on her son Frank.
In an interview with ANC earlier today, Dec. 22, Paniqui Municipal Police Station Chief Police Lieutenant Colonel Noriel Rombaoa said that their unit has discussed the matter with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
"Mayroon na po kaming coordination sa DSWD for counseling kasi kailangan po nating i-counsel 'yung bata," Rombaoa said. "Automatic naman po sa DSWD na they will conduct counseling doon sa bata kasi minor pa rin ‘yun.”
While there is no information on the whereabouts of the child’s mother so far, Rombaoa revealed that she is not residing in Paniqui, where the crime took place.
“On our background investigation, wala naman pong relatives dito ‘yung suspect… Hindi siya taga rito. Hindi siya taga ordinance. Taga Urdaneta City siya,” Rombaoa said.
“Same rin with his wife na hindi rin taga-rito sa Paniqui. Nakausap ko na rin si Barangay Chairwoman Linda Manuel, and wala pala silang relatives dito sa Paniqui, Tarlac.”
Aside from Nuezca’s daughter, the children from Gregorio’s side, who were present at the crime scene, will likewise undergo counseling.
Rombaoa added, “The same doon sa mga bata ng Gregorio, kailangan din nila ng counseling.”
Kasi ‘pag maganda ang pagpapalaki diyan sa batang ‘yan, ‘di ganun mangyayari sa batang ‘yun.
Meanwhile, Sonya’s bereaved husband, Florentino Gregorio, is asking the public to stop condemning Nuezca’s daughter over the incident. The grieving widower and father stressed that the child should not be blamed for her erroneous upbringing.
“Sana naman po, tigilan niyo ang [pagba-bash] kasi masakit rin sa kanila ‘yun kahit na ganoon. Kasi bata pa ‘yan, kulang ang pag-aaruga na [binigay] ng magulang sa kanya kaya naging ganyan ang turing ng bata na ‘yan,” Gregorio said in an interview at the wake of his wife and son earlier today.
“Kasi ‘pag maganda ang pagpapalaki diyan sa batang ‘yan, ‘di ganun mangyayari sa batang ‘yun. Sigurado may takot din siya sa pagputok ng baril na ‘yun, siguro umiyak yun, tumakbo din siya. (Kaso) hindi, e. Nakita niya na parang tama ang ginawa ng ama niya,” Gregorio continued. “’Yun ang mali sa magulang, na parang lahat ng kamalian itinatama niya sa anak niya.”
The Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC) has likewise released a statement urging the public to stop castigating Nuezca’s daughter.
“The child's behavior may have infuriated people, having spewed unintended words during the incident's filming. However, the child's cognitive ability to control emotional impulse and regulate emotions are still under development at the early stage of her childhood,” CWC stated.
"Bashing, sharing her pictures, and inciting further judgment through social media will not help the child learn the consequences of her actions. Children have the right to be protected from all kinds of violence, including cyberviolence. Instigating condemnation and negative reaction towards her will make us no different from the real perpetrator who should be held accountable,” the statement read.
The CWC said that like Nuezca’s daughter, children who are experiencing or being exposed to violence have a high risk of using or experiencing violence against partners, peers, and family members. The child must then be “accorded with appropriate intervention and rehabilitation to help her process the aftermath of the traumatic incident and reflect on her actions.”