Nuezca quarantined in Tarlac jail

MANILA, Philippines — Police M/Sgt. Jonel Nuezca was transferred to a facility run by the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) in Paniqui, Tarlac on Monday afternoon.

Nuezca, who is awaiting trial for the killing of Sonya Gregorio, 52, and her son Frank Anthony, 25, was isolated as a precaution against coronavirus disease 2019, BJMP spokesman Chief Inspector Xavier Solsa said.

“He will undergo quarantine for 21 days,” Solda said in a text message.

Nuezca was transferred to the BJMP facility at around 5:10 p.m. in compliance with the order of a local court.

The jail is 30 meters away from the Paniqui police station, where he was detained for a week after the incident on Dec. 20.

Solda said there are 58 inmates in the jail, which has an ideal capacity of 19, or a congestion rate of 300 percent.

He said Nuezca would join the other inmates after his quarantine.

Meanwhile, Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian sought to legislate reforms in instilling discipline in the police force to address similar incidents.

“We can legislate the process of disciplining the ranks of those in the PNP (Philippine National Police). We can legislate additional budget to improve the process if needed,” Gatchalian said.