Vice Ganda couldn’t help but relive the memory of his father’s tragic death after seeing the viral video of an off-duty policeman killing a mother and son in Tarlac.
On Monday, netizens and celebrities expressed their outrage over Parañaque police officer Jonel Nuezca, 46, shooting Sonya Gregorio, 52, and her son Frank Anthony Gregorio, 25, dead in broad daylight following a “petty quarrel” on Sunday afternoon.
READ: Celebrities condemn viral incident of police killing mother, son in Tarlac
The comedian-host also took to social media to condemn the killing of the unarmed civilians, saying it reminded him of how his own father was murdered right before their very eyes.
“Natulala ako matapos ko mapanuod ung video. Bumalik yung trauma ko. Bumalik lahat ng pilit ko ng ibinabaon na alaala. Yung putok ng baril. Yung itsura nung tatay ko na parang baboy na sinasakay sa jeep. Yung mukha ng demonyo. Ang bigat ng nararamdaman ko,” Vice said in a tweet.
In an emotional 2016 Magadang Buhay interview, Vice shared that his father Reynaldo Viceral was killed over a dispute with a neighbor.
“Palaspas ‘yun. Linggo ng Palaspas tapos magsisimba ‘yung buong pamilya ko kasi relihiyoso ang nanay ko. So noong magsisimba na ‘yung buong pamilya ko, nakabihis na sila.
“Ako, nasa loob pa ng bahay. Tapos ‘yung tatay ko, nasa labas, naka-istambay. Ayon, tapos may tumatakbo, nagkakagulo na naman. Sabi sa nanay ko, ‘Si Mang Rey po, napaaway, napa-trouble.’ ‘Pag labas nila, binabaril na ‘yung tatay ko.”
In the same interview, Vice said the suspect was never put behind bars even as the whole barangay witnessed the incident.
Vice has since forgiven his father’s killer because he believes one never achieves happiness and success in life if he continues to harbor anger. “Dumating ako sa punto na ipinagpasa-Diyos ko na lahat. Pinatawad ko na siya. Alam mo nga, nalaman ko na hindi na maganda ang kalusugan niya kasi doon pa rin siya nakatira sa amin.
“Sabi ko dun sa mga kaibigan ko, ‘Gusto ko siyang puntahan… para sabihin sa kanya na matagal na ho kitang pinatawad, ha. At kung ‘yun ho ang nagpapabigat sa kalooban niyo ngayon, kung nanonood siya ngayon, gusto kong malaman mo na ang tagal-tagal na kitang napatawad.”
Nevertheless, the It’s Showtime host joined the calls for justice for the victims as he hoped the family left behind will not experience what they went through.
Vice said in a tweet, “Sana’y wag silang magaya sa Tatay ko na di nabigyan ng hustisya. Sana’y wag silang magaya sa pamilya namin na namanhid na lng sa tagal ng paghihintay ng katarungan. Sana wala ng makaranas ng kasamaang ito. #JusticeforSonyaGregorio #JusticeforFrankGregorio #StopTheKillingsPH.”
