Arrest warrant out vs 6 cops for murder of Navotas teen

MANILA, Philippines — The Navotas Regional Trial Court Branch 286 has ordered the arrest of six policemen involved in the killing of 17-year-old Jerhode “Jemboy” Baltazar.

In the order signed by Presiding Judge Pedro T. Dabu, the subjects of the arrest warrant are the following:

-Police Executive Master Sergeant Roberto Dioso Balais Jr. (SWAT);

-Police Staff Sergeant Antonio Balcita Bugayong (Intelligence Service or 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 or SS4) and

-Patrolman Benedict Danao Mangada (SS4)

They are facing a case for violation of Article 248 of the Revised Penal Code or murder.

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

The six cops were the first to be identified among those participating in the August 2 botched operation for a murder suspect. Baltazar’s death was a case of mistaken identity.

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

Currently, they are under restrictive custody of the Philippine National Police (PNP). With the issuance of the arrest warrant, they will be moved to a local jail under the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) unless a motion is filed and granted by the court.

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