Elisha Aquino Nuezca became one of the most talked-about figures in the Philippines after a video of her father shooting two neighbours went viral in December 2020. She was just 12 years old. The clip sparked nationwide outrage and spawned what became known as the "My father is a policeman" meme. Following the incident, government agencies stepped in to shield her from public vilification. Her father, dismissed police officer Jonel Nuezca, was convicted of double murder and later died in prison in November 2021.
Source: UGC
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key takeaways
- Elisha Aquino Nuezca was approximately 12 years old when she witnessed her father kill Sonia Gregorio and Frank Anthony Gregorio on 20 December 2020 in Paniqui, Tarlac.
- She was heard invoking her father's police status during the argument, which went viral as the "My father is a policeman" meme.
- UNICEF Philippines, the Commission on Women, and the DSWD urged the public to stop sharing her images and personal information online.
- Her father, Jonel Montales Nuezca, was sentenced to life imprisonment on 26 August 2021 for two counts of murder.
- Jonel Nuezca died of cardiac arrest at New Bilibid Prison on 30 November 2021 and was buried in Urdaneta City on 5 December 2021.
Profile summary
Full name | Elisha Aquino Nuezca |
Date of birth | c. 2008 (exact date not publicly confirmed) |
Age | Approximately 17–18 (as of 2026) |
Place of birth | Philippines |
Nationality | Filipino |
Father | Jonel Montales Nuezca (1974–2021) |
Mother | Name not publicly disclosed |
Siblings | Not publicly confirmed |
Zodiac sign | Unverified |
Elisha Aquino Nuezca is the daughter of Jonel Montales Nuezca, a dismissed Philippine National Police (PNP) Senior Master Sergeant. She is best known for appearing in a viral video filmed during a fatal confrontation in Paniqui, Tarlac on 20 December 2020.
The 2020 Tarlac shooting
The incident occurred at around 5:10 p.m. on 20 December 2020. Jonel Nuezca, who was off duty and in civilian clothing, confronted his neighbours Sonia Gregorio, 52, and her son Frank Anthony Gregorio, 25, over a boga, a bamboo noisemaker, in Barangay Cabayaoasan, Paniqui, Tarlac.
Elisha was at the scene alongside her father. An argument escalated. Nuezca then drew his firearm and shot both victims at close range, killing them. A relative of the Gregorios recorded the incident on video. The footage spread rapidly across social media, drawing condemnation from across the Philippines. The victims were reportedly neighbours and relatives of Nuezca's wife, and the two families had an existing dispute over a right-of-way issue.
Source: Original
Elisha's role in the confrontation
Elisha was seen and heard during the confrontation. She was reported to have invoked her father's position in the PNP while arguing with the victims. The words attributed to her, that her father was a policeman, became a defining element of the public reaction and the online backlash that followed.
According to the 2020 Tarlac shooting Wikipedia page, Nuezca had previously faced two h*micide-related cases in 2019 that were dismissed for lack of evidence, and had received a 31-day suspension in 2014 for refusing a drug test.
The "My father is a policeman" meme
The phrase became a trending topic on Philippine social media within hours of the video spreading. MY FATHER IS A POLICEMAN reached 17,000 mentions on Twitter alongside hashtags #StoptheKillingsPH and #EndPoliceBrutality. Celebrities joined calls for justice. The moment became a wider symbol of debates around police accountability and abuse in the Philippines.
What happened to Elisha Nuezca after the shooting?
Counselling and government support
After the video went viral, Elisha's personal information and photographs circulated widely online. UNICEF Philippines, the Commission on Women, and the DSWD all intervened. The agency said in a statement, calling for her protection as a child who had witnessed extreme violence,
UNICEF urges the public to stop spreading information about the minor child of the suspect.
The DSWD arranged counselling for Elisha in coordination with the PNP. The Commission on Women publicly urged media and the public not to vilify the child. One government agency noted, calling on Filipinos to show compassion for the minor.
She may herself be a product of a culture of violence.
The Philippine Commission on Women called on the public to spare Nuezca's daughter from condemnation, acknowledging that she had been "repeatedly vilified and verbally abused" online.
Where is Elisha Nuezca now?
No verified public information is available on Elisha Nuezca's current whereabouts or life. She has not made any public statements. As of 2026, she would be approximately 17–18 years old.
Her identity as a minor was central to calls for privacy at the time of the incident. She is believed to have continued living privately since 2020. Anyone claiming to have confirmed details of her current life should be treated with scepticism, as no credible outlet has published verified updates.
Who is Jonel Nuezca's wife?
Jonel Nuezca's wife has not been publicly identified in any major news report. The victims, Sonia Gregorio and Frank Anthony Gregorio, were reportedly neighbours and relatives of Nuezca's wife. Beyond this, no verified details about her identity, whereabouts, or current circumstances are publicly available.
Jonel Nuezca's conviction and death
Conviction: guilty of double murder
Jonel Nuezca pleaded not guilty at his arraignment on 10 January 2021. The PNP dismissed him from the force the following day. On 26 August 2021, the Paniqui Regional Trial Court found him guilty of two counts of murder. He received a sentence of reclusión perpetua, up to 40 years in prison, for each count, and was ordered to pay ₱952,560 to the victims' family.
Source: UGC
Death at New Bilibid Prison
Jonel Nuezca died on 30 November 2021 at New Bilibid Prison hospital in Muntinlupa. He collapsed while walking outside his dormitory and was brought to the prison hospital by fellow inmates. He was 47. The Department of Justice confirmed that the preliminary NBI report indicated cardiac arrest as the cause of death. The Bureau of Corrections found no suspicious circumstances prior to his collapse.
Jonel Nuezca's funeral
His remains were transferred to Eastern Funeral in Alabang, Muntinlupa, before being transported to his home province of Pangasinan. He was buried at Urdaneta City Memorial Park on 5 December 2021.
Latest news
There are no confirmed public developments relating to Elisha Nuezca or the Jonel Nuezca case within the past six months. All major proceedings, the conviction in August 2021, his death on 30 November 2021, and the burial on 5 December 2021, concluded years ago.
FAQ
- What is Jonel Nuezca's daughter's name? The convicted criminal's daughter's name is Elisha Aquino Nuezca. She was approximately 12 years old when she witnessed the fatal shooting of Sonia and Frank Anthony Gregorio in Paniqui, Tarlac on 20 December 2020.
- What happened to Elisha Nuezca? Following the viral shooting video, Elisha was classified as a trauma survivor. The DSWD arranged counselling for her and government agencies called on the public to stop sharing her images and personal information. No further public updates have been confirmed.
- Where is Elisha Nuezca now? Her current whereabouts are not publicly known. As of 2026, she would be approximately 17–18 years old. She has not made any public statements and is believed to be living privately.
- What is the "My father is a policeman" meme? The phrase became a trending hashtag after a viral video appeared to show Elisha invoking her father's police status during the confrontation with the Gregorios. It became a symbol of public debate about police accountability in the Philippines.
- Who is Jonel Nuezca's wife? Jonel Nuezca's wife has not been publicly identified in any reliable news report. The Gregorio victims were reportedly neighbours and relatives of his wife. No further verified information about her is available.
- How did Jonel Nuezca die? Jonel Nuezca died of cardiac arrest on 30 November 2021 at New Bilibid Prison, aged 47. He collapsed while walking outside his dormitory and was brought to the prison hospital by fellow inmates.
- When was Jonel Nuezca's funeral? Jonel Nuezca was buried on 5 December 2021 at Urdaneta City Memorial Park in Urdaneta City, Pangasinan, his home province.
- What was Jonel Nuezca's sentence? He was convicted of two counts of murder on 26 August 2021 and sentenced to reclusión perpetua (up to 40 years) for each count. He was also ordered to pay ₱952,560 in damages to the victims' family.
The 2020 Tarlac tragedy remains a stark reminder of police accountability and online ethics in the Philippines. While Jonel Nuezca’s conviction and sudden death closed his legal chapter, his daughter’s story took a different path. Shielded by government protection and public silence, Elisha was given space to heal away from viral scrutiny. Her quiet retreat highlights the crucial line between public outrage and a child’s right to recovery.
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