One of six Navotas cops guilty of homicide in Jemboy's death

One of six Navotas cops guilty of homicide in Jemboy’s death – court

/ 10:25 AM February 27, 2024

The parents of 17-year-old Jemboy Baltazar at the Department of Justice (DOJ) after the Navotas court handed down its verdict finding one of six cops guilty of homicide. (Photo by TETCH TORRES / INQUIRER.net)

Updated on February 27, 2024, at 1:07 p.m.

MANILA, Philippines — The Navotas Regional Trial Court Branch 286 has found guilty of homicide one of the six police officers involved in the killing of 17-year-old Jerhode “Jemboy” Baltazar.

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Pronounced guilty of homicide is Staff Sergeant Gerry Sabate Maliban (IS). He was meted with a penalty of up to six years and four months of imprisonment plus a total of P100,000 in civil liability and for moral damages.

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The other police officers are as follows:

  • Executive Master Sergeant Roberto Dioso Balais Jr.
  • Staff Sergeant Nikko Pines Corollo Esquillon (SWAT)
  • Corporal Edmark Jake Sorbito Blanco (Sub-station 4)
  • Patrolman Benedict Danao Mangada (Sub-station 4)

They were been found guilty of illegal discharge of firearms. They were meted with a penalty of four months and one day of imprisonment.

READ: Mom of slain Navotas teen wants murder raps vs 6 cops

Meanwhile, Staff Sergeant Antonio Balcita Bugayong (Intelligence Service) was acquitted.

Aside from not admitting that he fired his gun on the day Jemboy was killed, the court noted that a paraffin test of his firearm yielded negative results for gunpowder.

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“Although the absence of a gun powder is not conclusive evidence that the gun was not fired, yet the negative result of gunpowder is a corroborative evidence,” the court said.

It added that the witness, “Sonny Boy,” said the“fat man” firing his gun at the dike was not Bugayon.

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“With all these evidence, there is doubt that PSSg Bugayong fired his gun,” the court said.

Murder was initially filed against the police officers.

TAGS: Homicide, Jerhode Jemboy Baltazar, rogue cops, slain teen

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