6 cops face murder raps for mistaken identity shooting of Navotas teen

GRIEVING MOM – Rodaliza Baltazar, mother of Jerhode “Jemboy” Baltzara, weeps during his wake at the family residence in Barangay NBBS Kaunlaran, Navotas City. (LYN RILLON / INQUIRER)

MANILA, Philippines– The City Prosecutor of Navotas has filed a case for murder against six police officers tagged in the death of 17-year-old Jerhode “Jemboy” Baltazar.

Charged for violation of Article 248 of the Revised Penal Code or murder are the following: Police Executive Master Sergeant Roberto Dioso Balais Jr. (SWAT), Police Staff Sergeant Antonio Balcita Bugayong (Intelligence Service / IS), Police Staff Sergeant Gerry Sabate Maliban (IS), Police Staff Sergeant Nikko Pines Corollo Esquillon (SWAT), Police Corporal Edmark Jake Sorbito Blanco (Sub-Station 4 / SS4) and Patrolman Benedict Danao Mangada (SS4).

The six police officers were the first to be identified as among those who participated in the August 2 botched operation against a murder suspect. The fatal shooting of Baltazar was a case of mistaken identity.

Based on the Information or charge sheet, the six police officers conspired to kill Baltazar when they fired successive shots at teenager, “thereby inflicting gunshot wounds to the back of his headand the dorsal portion of his hand, while the latter was in the act of jumping, and even while underwater.”

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said before filing the case, it went through evaluation.

“Ito ay pinag-usapan po natin dito sa DOJ (Department of Justice) at pina-evaluate po natin upang maging tama yung pagpa-file nung kaso,” Remulla told reporters.

[This was discussed here at the DOJ (Department of Justice), and we had it evaluated to ensure that the filing of the case is done correctly.]

The prosecutor named seven witnesses against the six police officers, including forensic pathologist Raquel Fortun.

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