‘MENTAL MATTER’: NAPOLCOM-6 chief calls for regular neuro-psych exam for cops

By Joseph B.A. Marzan

 

The regional chief of the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM-6) on Tuesday said the shooting of a mother and her son on Sunday, Dec. 20 was “unjustified” even as he called for stricter neuropsychological examinations for Philippine National Police (PNP) officers.

Sonya and Frank Anthony Gregorio were shot in front of their house in Paniqui, Tarlac, by a plainclothes police officer who was officially stationed to Parañaque City in Metro Manila but residing in the town.

The shooting, which was caught on video, sparked renewed outrage against the PNP which had been previously criticized for the unwarranted shooting of several civilians and military personnel in other parts of the country.

Police Staff Sergeant Jonel Nuezca had already surrendered to authorities in Rosales, Pangasinan on Monday, where he was indicted for double murder.

It was also revealed on Monday that Nuezca had also been involved in alleged misconducts, including two separate cases of homicide in 2019 which were dropped due to lack of substantial evidence.

NAPOLCOM-6 Regional Director Joseph Celis told Aksyon Radyo Iloilo on Tuesday that the shooting was a personal action by the police officer.

The NAPOLCOM is the agency that administers and controls the PNP, administers the police entrance examinations, conducts pre-charge investigation of police anomalies and irregularities, and summarily dismisses erring police officers.

It is chaired in the national level by the Secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), a vice-chairperson, four commissioners appointed by the President, and the PNP chief as ex-officio board member.

Celis said a police officer should be conscious in using his or her gun.

“You only shoot a person when you are under threat or when your life is threatened by another person. That was only a verbal fight, just screaming and taunts, then you would go shoot? It’s not justified. Whether you are a policeman or a civilian, without any threat to your life, there is no law [which says] that you can just shoot the person. So for me, the action he made was excessive and that is criminal in nature. When the situation is like that, it is not right for a peaceful society,” Celis said.

He said that the PNP cannot avoid being dragged into the mess because even off-duty cops are still police officers.

“We cannot avoid the PNP being dragged there because we are the police. Although, my position is that, not all people in an organization are the same, because there are always problematic members in an organization,” he said.

As to the proposal of Senator Panfilo Lacson, who is also a former PNP chief, that off-duty police should leave government-issued firearms with their station armory, Celis said this matter should be discussed by Congress.

He added that for the NAPOLCOM, firearms are necessary as even off-duty police officers are still obliged to respond to situations “24 hours a day”.

He also inferred that the problem may be with the neuropsychological examinations administered by the PNP.

According to Celis, these examinations are only administered only on applicants or when a police officer applies for promotion.

“It requires discussion by the Senate, but for us in the NAPOLCOM, technically, when you are a police officer, you are a police officer for 24 hours. You are even obliged to respond anytime to any situation. My opinion is that police do need arms with them, but the problem here is the screening process in the training and recruitment [of police officers]. It boils down to the [neuropsychological] examination,” Celis said.

He said he would raise for a stricter neuropsychological examination which would be held regularly regardless if an officer applies for promotion or not.

“There needs to be a change in the process, whether you’re promoted or not, you should have a [neuropsychological examination]. That’s one of the propositions I wish to raise with the NAPOLCOM to enforce over the PNP,” he said.

Even President Rodrigo Duterte said on Monday evening that Nuezca might be suffering from mental illness and even called the cop “may topak” or mentally challenged.