PNP vows no whitewash on case of 17-year-old killed by Navotas cops

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Thursday allayed fears that the investigation on the killing of a male teenager by policemen who mistook him for a suspect in Navotas City would be whitewashed.

“”We want to assure everyone na walang mangyayari ng whitewash dito [We want to assure everyone that this will not be whitewashed],” PNP spokesperson Police Colonel Jean Fajardo told GMA Integrated News’ Unang Balita in an interview.

“No less our chief PNP assures the public po na bibigyan ng katarungan itong biktima at itong mga pulis ay siguradong masasampahan ng kaso particularly 'yung administrative case that would lead to their outright dismissal,” she added.

(No less our chief PNP assures the public that we will serve justice for the victim and that the involved police officers will surely face a case, particularly an administrative one that would lead to their outright dismissal from service.)

On August 2, 17-year-old Jemboy Baltazar 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 of a fatal shooting incident during their follow-up operation.

Baltazar 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 Baltazar. 

Asked about the alleged attempt of the police to plant drug evidence on the teenager, 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, according to Fajardo.

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

In the aftermath of the incident, PNP chief Police General Benjamin Acorda Jr. directed field commanders to conduct briefings before actual police operations.

“No less than the Chief PNP has directed ang ating mga field commanders na dapat SOP ito na bago mag-conduct ng any form of police operation ay dapat may briefing yung mga team leaders,” Fajardo said in the same television interview.

(No less than the PNP chief has directed field commanders to impose an SOP wherein team leaders should conduct briefings before any police operations.) —KBK, GMA Integrated News