NCRPO logo. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Navotas police chief Col. Allan Umipig has been removed from his post and is facing administrative charges in connection with the death of 17-year-old Jerhode Jemboy Baltazar.
The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) disclosed this information on Wednesday, noting that its chief, Maj. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. relieved Umipig upon the Philippine National Police-Internal Affairs Service (PNP-IAS) recommendation.
The PNP-IAS said in a statement released on Tuesday evening that it also recommended that administrative charges be filed against Umipig and 11 other police officers found committing operational lapses last August 2 that led to Baltazar’s death.
Earlier reports indicated that six police officers were involved in the death of Baltazar. The PNP-IAS said the grave charges against the six police officers are already at the summary dismissal stage.
Later, however, the PNP-IAS determined that 11 more police officers were involved in the fatal shooting of Baltazar.
READ: Body-worn cam turned off during Navotas teen’s slay
“Upon further investigation of the Internal Affairs Service, it has been discovered that the Navotas Chief of Police instructed the team leader of the operatives to exclude from their reports 11 police officers who were also involved in the fatal shooting of the 17-year-old Jerhode Jemboy Baltazar,” it said.
Due to this discovery, the PNP-IAS said complaints for dishonesty and command responsibility would be filed against Umipig while complaints for abandoning Baltazar’s body and other possible violations of police operational procedures would be lodged against the 11 police officers.
Baltazar was shot and killed after being mistaken as a suspect by police officers who conducted a follow-up anti-crime operation in Barangay North Bay Boulevard South Kaunlaran in Navotas City.
RELATED STORIES
8 cops in Navotas mistaken identity case face administrative charges
PNP assures Navotas teen’s family of justice
PNP to review ‘use of force’ after killing of Navotas teen