Abalos orders review of PNP operational procedures after Jemboy’s death

Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos directed the Philippine National Police (PNP) to review its operational procedures after Navotas City cops killed 17-year-old boy Jemboy Baltazar due to mistaken identity.

“Magkakaroon kami ng meeting with the PNP leadership at pag-uusapan namin kung anong dapat gawin dito. We will revisit all of their modes of procedure at ‘yung tinatawag na command responsibility, kung up to what level (ang liability) para hindi na maulit ito,” Abalos said in a statement on Friday.

(We will have a meeting with the PNP leadership to discuss what we should do. We will revisit all modes of procedure and the command responsibility, to find out the level of liability and prevent this from happening again.)

Abalos and PNP chief Police General Benjamin Acorda Jr. separately visited the wake of the teenager on Thursday.

On August 2, 17-year-old Baltazar was aboard a small vessel and on his way to go fishing when he was shot and killed by Navotas City cops in Barangay NBBS Kaunlaran.

A friend who was with him said they were preparing their boat when a policeman ordered them to get off.

They reportedly tried to give themselves up but the cops allegedly kept on shooting.

It was at this point that Baltazar dove into the water.

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 the teenager.

Acorda told Baltazar's family that the PNP will exert all efforts to find out what really happened, according to the report of James Agustin on GMA Integrated News’ Unang Balita.

“Nandito lang ako, unang-una, to send our condolence. At the same time, to give assurance to the members of the family na wala tayong itatago dyan. When it comes to the conduct of the investigation, we will be exerting all our efforts so the truth will come out in this investigation,” said Acorda.

(I am here, first, to send our condolence. At the same time, to give assurance to the members of the family that we will not hide anything. When it comes to the conduct of the investigation, we will be exerting all our efforts so the truth will come out in this investigation.)

Acorda added that the PNP will continue to provide protection to the family.

On Friday, Jemboy's mother, Rodaliza arrived at the NAIA Terminal 1 at 10:35 a.m., according to the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW).

“Senior officials of the DMW are meeting with OFW Rodaliza Baltazar at the VIP Lounge of the NAIA Terminal 1... they are finding out what other forms of assistance the department may extend to her and her family,” the DMW said in a Facebook.

The DMW said it will give Rodaliza P100,000 financial assistance and will also shoulder expenses for the funeral and burial of her son.

Jemboy’s sister, Jessa, reiterated the family's call for justice.

“Managot po sila sa ginawa po nila sa kapatid ko. Pagdusahan po yung ginawa po nila (They should be held accountable for what they did to my brother. They should suffer for what they did),” she said.

Acorda, meanwhile, reminded PNP personnel, “Please be wary of your actions. Dapat you know what are the proper procedure, you know the protools, and you know how to use your firearm . Dapat malaman natin yung mga basic na yan (We should know the basics).”

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

They are also facing administrative charges for grave misconduct and serious irregularity in the performance of duty and have been relieved from their post.

The cops involved are currently detained at the Navotas Police Headquarters. 

Opposition lawmakers in the House of Representatives, meanwhile, condemned what they described as "culture of impunity" in the PNP.

"We strongly condemn the killing of Jemboy by the police which admitted that it is a case of mistaken identity. This is a harsh reminder of how the police brutally killed Kian delos Santos in 2017 under the Duterte administration’s war on drugs," House Assistant Minority Leader Arlene Brosas of Gabriela party-list said in a press conference.

She was referring to the teenager who was killed by the police at point blank range despite the teenager pleading for his life.

"Nakakabahala po ito, and we demand justice for Jemboy and his family. Police officers who did this should face the full force of the law. We should put an end to police violence, and ensure that the lives of individuals are protected," Brosas said. 

"We stand in solidarity with Jemboy and we have filed a House Resolution to investigate the police who are supposedly tasked to serve and protect," Brosas added. —Joviland Rita and Llanesca Panti/ VAL, GMA Integrated News