All victims of police and military killings must unite and demand justice
The Filipino people are incredulous over the claims of Malacañang and the leadership of the Philippine National Police (PNP) that the cold-blooded double murder last Sunday by a police officer in Paniqui, Tarlac is an “isolated case.” The truth is that the crime perpetrated by killer police Master Sergeant Jonel Nuezca happens everyday both in the cities and in rural areas. The brazenness with which he carried out the killing is a reflection of the culture of impunity promoted by Duterte himself which pervades the PNP as well as the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
The people are outraged at how the police killer shot at close range 52-year old Sonya Gregorio and her 29-year old son Frank Anthony in full view of the perpetrators’ 12-year old daughter and several other people. They are furious against the entire police establishment which engenders the killer mindset that drives police officers to carry out such dastardly crimes.
The killing of the Gregorios was recorded on video which showed Nuezca’s naked impunity. To this, PNP Chief Debold Sinas, himself responsible for numerous killings in the past, admonished people not to record crimes. Obviously, Sinas prefers that the crimes perpetrated by his police officers be executed furtively in the dead of night and away from cameras.
Everyday, the news is filled with reports of police abuses and killing of suspects being arrested or in custody. Thousands of police officers have carried out these crimes in the regime’s sham drug war, as well as in its dirty war against unarmed people who choose to dissent and stand against the regime’s tyranny. The media storyline presented by the police has become trite: that the victims are criminal suspects who “resisted arrest” which “forced the police to fire back.”
In fact, the fascist Duterte himself is the number one breeder of killer military and police. He has repeatedly made clear his disdain for human rights. He has emboldened them to “kill, kill, kill” on the pretext of “legitimate operations” which are in fact operations to liquidate Duterte’s drug rivals and political enemies.
Senior MSgt. Nuezca is an abominable monster created in Duterte’s fascist image and mental likeness. The PNP and the AFP are stacked with criminals like him. They do not have remorse. They all must be punished.
We enjoin the tens of thousands of victims of the Duterte regime’s sham drug war and dirty war to stand up as one and voice out their united demand for justice. Mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters and friends of all victims must come together and take action to demand justice for their loved ones. They must demand full accounting of each and every case of police and military killing. Police officers who could no longer stomach these crimes must come forward and help lay bare the truth. Those behind the police and military executions must be punished for their crimes.
Making these police officers pay is not enough, however, when murderers in uniform terrorize people everyday. Police and military killings will not stop as long as the fascist Duterte continues to order them to murder with fat rewards and bonuses to perpetuate his reign of terror and corruption.
The revolutionary forces stand with all victims of police and military killings and support their demand for justice. Organs of political power can independently receive information from victims and conduct their own investigation, and when warranted, order the New People’s Army (NPA) to carry out the necessary steps to prosecute and subject the criminals to punishment.