Jemboy’s mom set to return from Qatar after seeking DMW aid

The mother of the 17-year-old who was killed by Navotas policemen last week in a case of mistaken identity is set to return to the Philippines from Qatar after she sought assistance from the Department of Migrant Workers.

According to a memo sent to President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., DMW officer in charge  Bernard Olalia said Rodaliza Baltazar is now at the DMW office in Doha, where she is waiting for her flight home.

Rodaliza is said to have run away from her employer in 2022 and had been working off jobs while hiding from Qatari authorities.

She sought the DMW’s assistance after she received news of her son’s death.

On August 2, her son 17-year-old Jemboy was on his way to fish when he was shot and killed by Navotas City policemen in Barangay NBBS Kaunlaran.

The policemen reportedly mistook the teenager for a suspect in a fatal shooting incident during their follow-up operation.

Jemboy was aboard a small vessel and preparing to go fishing when the team of policemen arrived, surrounded the area, and started shooting him.

Some of the six policemen said in their affidavits that they fired shots only at the water and that they did not intend to hit Rodaliza.

Asked about the alleged attempt of the police to plant drug evidence on the teenager, PNP spokesperson Police Colonel Jean Fajardo said this will be included in the investigation.

The policemen have undergone inquest proceedings over complaints of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide.

They are facing administrative charges for grave misconduct and serious irregularity in the performance of duty, Fajardo said.

They have been relieved from their post and are detained at the Navotas Police headquarters.

Rodaliza was located by a DMW team led by Acting MWO-Doha Head Don Albert Pangcog, through her daughter and was able to obtain a final exit clearance after the DMW helped resolve her case at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

The DMW and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) will jointly provide 100,000 in financial assistance and will also shoulder her repatriation and the funeral and burial expenses of her child, Olalia said. —NB, GMA Integrated News