FILE PHOTO: Jerhode “Jemboy” Baltazar. Contributed photo from Jessa Tolentino Baltazar
MANILA, Philippines — The six police officers tagged in the killing of 17-year-old Jerhode “Jemboy” Baltazar have “voluntarily surrendered,” the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) said Thursday.
It also said in a report that the six police officers yielded to CIDG-Lucena City in Quezon province on October 4, following the issuance of an arrest order against them by Navotas Regional Trial Court Branch 286.
The arrest warrant dated October 3 did not recommend bail for the six police officers, who were accused of murder – violating Article 248 of the Revised Penal Code – for the August 2 fatal shooting of Baltazar, who was mistaken as a suspect in a murder case.
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The CIDG identified the police officers who surrendered as Police Executive Master Sergeant Roberto Dioso Balais Jr. (SWAT); Staff Sergeant Antonio Balcita Bugayong (Intelligence Service or IS); Staff Sergeant Gerry Sabate Maliban (IS); Staff Sergeant Nikko Pines Corollo Esquillon (SWAT); Corporal Edmark Jake Sorbito Blanco (Sub-Station 4 or SS4), and Patrolman Benedict Danao Mangada (SS4).
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Earlier, the National Capital Region Police Office said it is reviewing the recommendation of the Philippine National Police’s Internal Affairs Service to suspend for 59 days 20 more police officers linked to Baltazar’s death.
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