6 Navotas cops a no-show at preliminary investigation of Jemboy's case

The six Navotas City police officers involved in the killing of 17-year-old Jemboy Baltazar did not attend the preliminary investigation of the case, Emil Sumangil reported Tuesday on “24 Oras.”

Instead of personally appearing before the prosecutor’s office, suspects Police Executive Master Sergeant Roberto Balais, Police Staff Sergeant Gerry Maliban, Police Staff Sergeant Antonio Bugayong, Police Staff Sergeant Nikko Esquilon, Police Corporal Eduard Blanco, and Patrolman Benedict Mangada had their legal representative appear for them.

The suspects are currently facing charges of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide, but the victim’s camp filed a motion to have the charges upgraded to murder.

“Andito po kami ngayon para mag-file ng aming entry of appearance, at the same time to ask for time to amend the complaint, and then we’ll wait for the resolution of the fiscal ng aming finile na resolution,” Lawyer Ansheline Bacudio, the victim’s legal representative, said.

(We’re here to file our entry of appearance and to ask that the complaint be amended. We’ll wait for the fiscal to issue a resolution on our motion.)

“So far walang appearance sa part ng mga respondents. Dapat nandito sila, since this is a preliminary investigation, everyone’s required to attend,” Bacudio said.

(So far, the respondents have yet to appear. They should be here because appearances are mandated during preliminary investigations.)

On August 2, Baltazar was on his way to fish when he was shot and killed by the Navotas City cops in Barangay NBBS Kaunlaran after they allegedly mistook the teenager for a murder suspect.

The city police previously admitted there were lapses in the operation and the involved cops have since been relieved from their posts. They have also undergone inquest proceedings over complaints of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide and were detained at the Navotas Police Headquarters.

Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos said he already issued an instruction to gather the suspects’ previous cases.

“I think way back in 2020… I think that motion for reconsideration was filed on time. So since it’s filed on time, it’s a pending hearing right now,” Abalos said.

Rhoda Baltazar, the victim’s mother, also hoped to come face-to-face with the suspects during the preliminary investigation.

“Sana bago binaril ‘yung anak ko, sana naisip niyo may anak kayo, pamangkin kayo. Ano mararamdaman ninyo?” she said.

(They should have thought of their children before they did that to my son. If they were in my situation, what would they feel?)

Meanwhile, witness alias “Tony” arrived at the prosecutor’s office and gave an account of the incident. Tony said he and Jemboy hid in a corner as they were scared of the police officers.

At least ten cops, some in civilian clothes, went to the area, he added.

“Lumabas na kayo riyan, kung hindi puputukan namin kayo. Nung palabas na kami, maya maya sunod-sunod na yung pagpapa-putok nila. Bawat silip ko sa butas, pinapa-putukan nila kami eh. Marami naka kita ruon, pagtalon ni Jemboy sa tubig, dun din siya pinapa-putukan,” Tony said.

(They told us to come out or they’ll shoot. We came out but they sprayed bullets at us. A lot of people saw that including how they shot Jemboy after he dove into the water.)

“‘Yung iba naka-uniporme, yung iba naka-sibilyan. ‘Yun ang bumabaril samin eh, naka sibilyan, nasa gutter siya, mataba,” he added.

(Some of them were in police uniforms, others were in civilian clothes. The one who shot us is wearing civilian clothes. He was fat.)

For her part, Bacudio declined to give an opinion on the witness’ statements.

“At this time I cannot provide any opinion on that matter, since we’re building the case… I’m not at liberty to disclose any of the evidence that we gathered,” she said.

Jemboy will be laid to rest on Wednesday, August 6. — Sundy Locus/DVM, GMA Integrated News