Jemboy’s mom arrives from Qatar for son’s wake

The mother of Jemboy Baltazar, the 17-year-old boy killed by Navotas City policemen due to mistaken identity, has returned to the Philippines from Qatar on Friday.

Rodaliza Baltazar, an overseas Filipina worker (OFW), 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 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.

On August 2, Jemboy 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.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) vowed that there will be no whitewash in the investigation.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos directed the PNP to review its operational procedures after the incident.

The involved 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 are currently detained at the Navotas Police Headquarters. —VAL, GMA Integrated News