Tulfo hits Navotas cops’ lapses in fatal mistaken identity shooting
MANILA, Philippines — Several irregularities were observed in the mistaken identity killing of Jemboy Baltazar in Navotas City, such as the involved police officers’ unnecessary use of “lethal approach” to apprehend the victim, Senator Raffy Tulfo said on Wednesday.
In his privilege speech delivered in a plenary session on Wednesday, Tulfo explained that various approaches are observed by the Philippine National Police (PNP) during an operation.
“In the 2021 Revised PNP Operational Procedures Manual, they introduced the Use of Force Continuum policy. Here, we see the three approaches for the Use of Force Continuum, starting with Non-Lethal Approach, moving to Less Lethal Approach, then going to Lethal Approach,” said Tulfo.
This, according to the lawmaker, indicates that every situation has an equivalent appropriate action.
“In the case of Jemboy, a 17-year-old who was in a boat and was planning to go fishing in broad daylight — unarmed and did not fight — our police immediately went straight to the Lethal Approach,” said Tulfo in English and Filipino.
Citing what was written in the PNP Operational Procedures Manual, Tulfo said Lethal Approach is only used when suspects are armed, dangerous, or showing aggression — none of which were observed from Baltazar at the time of his killing.
“Even if we turn Jemboy’s story upside down, how can this boy be a threat to a group of police armed with M16s and 9MMs?,” Tulfo wondered.
Another irregularity is that the Navotas policemen, after they shot the teen while boarding a boat, left the teen’s body in the water for more than three hours.
Tulfo said this is contrary to what was indicated in the PNP Manual that wounded suspects must be given aid or brought to the nearest hospital as soon as possible.
Rodaliza Baltazar, a migrant worker, weeps upon arriving at her Navotas City home and seeing the body of her 17-year-old son Jerhode, who was shot dead by the police on Aug. 2 in a case of mistaken identity. Charges have been filed against the six police officers involved. (LYN RILLON / INQUIRER)
Tulfo likewise criticized the police operatives force for allegedly having their body-worn cameras turned off during the conduct of the operation.
“As if the death of Jemboy is not enough, the road to justice proves to be difficult yet again for Jemboy’s family, as with most cases where the victims are poor and powerless,” Tulfo remarked.
The brazen killing of Baltazar likewise prompted Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva to ask: “How many more of [our] youth should suffer because of our police’s reckless actions?”
Meanwhile, Senators Risa Hontiveros and Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel filed separate measures — Senate Resolution Nos. 742 and 736 respectively — calling for an inquiry into the killing of Baltazar.
