Slain teenagers’ family upgrades raps vs 6 cops
Rodaliza Baltazar, the OFW mother of slain teenager Jemboy Baltazar, bids her last farewell to her son during a funeral mass at the San Lorenzo Parish in Navotas City on Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2023. ( File photo by GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE / Philippine Daily Iinquirer)
MANILA, Philippines — The family of 17-year-old Jerhode “Jemboy” Baltazar has filed murder charges against the six Navotas policemen who were tagged in the Aug. 2 killing of the teenager who was mistaken for another suspect.
On Tuesday, the Baltazar family’s lawyers filed the murder charges at the Navotas City Prosecutor against Master Sgt. Roberto Dioso Balais Jr.; Staff Sergeants Antonio Balcita Bugayong, Gerry Sabate Maliban, Nikko Pines Corollo Esquillon; Corporals Edmark Jake Sorbito Blanco, and Patrolman Benedict Danao Mangada.
In filing the murder charges, lawyer Ansheline Bacudio of the group Initiatives for Dialogue and Empowerment through Alternative Legal Services, said they hoped to inspire other families facing the same predicament to come forward and pursue justice.
“The policemen involved should be made accountable for their crimes and the other abuses they have committed against innocent victims,” Bacudio said. “We need to end this cycle of impunity.”
The six policemen have already been charged of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide over Baltazar’s death.
Apart from these charges, the six were also investigated by the Senate for their involvement in the fatal operation that killed Baltazar last Aug. 2.
Full cooperation expected
But Bacudio believed that the policemen should have faced murder charges instead for knowingly shooting at Baltazar even though he attempted to surrender.
She also urged the policemen, some of whom were held in contempt by the Senate for giving inconsistent testimonies about the Aug. 2 operations, to “come clean and tell the truth for the sake of the bereaved family.”
Bacudio also challenged the PNP to make sure that the erring policemen were held accountable.
“If they are really sincere about cleansing their ranks, we expect their full cooperation in this case,” she added.
