Risa says Jemboy's death a result of drug war, seeks end to police violence

Senator Risa Hontiveros believes that the questionable police practices which led to the killing of 17-year-old Jemboy Baltazar was a result of the Duterte administration's war on drugs.

“Kapag tinanong niyo ako, oo, itong pinakahuling trahedya ni Jemboy, nasundan pa ng isa pa na pinatay na teenager. Sasagot ako na oo, ito na nga ‘yung resulta ng madugong war on drugs,” Hontiveros said in a press conference after the Senate hearing on Baltazar’s killing.

“Itong paglaganap ng kultura ng karahasan. ‘Yan lahat ay mga masasamang bunga ng war on drugs, na may na-internalize, may na-institutionalize na kultura at practice ng karahasan. Napakapait. At nag-ani naman nitong huli ay ‘yung kawawang pamilyang Baltazar… Terible ‘yung mga directives ni Duterte noon. ‘Yan ang nagpasimuno at nagpawalang sala sa war on drugs,” she added.

The opposition lawmaker noted the findings of the investigation where cops allegedly failed to ask Baltazar to surrender and that there was no attempt to arrest him. Instead, the police officers fired bullets against Baltazar.

She then challenged the Marcos administration to end these practices in the Philippine National Police (PNP) as she believed that if the president would speak against this, the police force would follow his order.

“Kayang magsimulang magbago, kahit ngayon pa lang. Maaaring magtatagal kasi ang tagal ng war on drugs na yan at sa katagalang iyan ay nanuot na, pero kung magkakaroon ng political will ang administrasyon ngayon na putulin yan, baguhin ‘yan, eh bakit hindi na pwedeng magsimulang magbago?” she asked.

“Para que pa na Presidente, ang isang Presidente kundi para pasundin ang national police? In the case of the PNP, pag sinabi ni Presidente ngayong araw, pag sineryoso yan ni Chief PNP Acorda…bakit hindi magsisimulang magbago yan kung may seryosong chain of command ‘yan?” she added.

For Hontiveros, the killing of Baltazar is a sign that the Marcos administration has no effort to end this culture among police officers.

“Itong nangyari [kay] Jemboy ay tanda na wala pa ring ganyang desisyon. Wala pa ring ganyang pagkilos, sa ilalim man ng kasalukuyang administrasyon,” the deputy minority leader said.

”Kaya ‘yan ang isang hamon sa kanila. Kasi pinatay si Jemboy, hindi ng war on drugs, bagamat may anggulong lumabas na pinapaamin si Sonny Boy na may baril at droga pa si Jemboy, pero napatay si Jemboy sa kasalukuyang administrasyon. So hamon sa kanila ito,” she added.

During the Senate public order and dangerous drugs hearing earlier today, Sonny Boy Augustilo said that he was forced to state in his affidavit that Baltazar had gun and illegal drugs during the police operation that led to his death.

Augustilo was with Baltazar when the latter was shot by Navotas City policemen who mistook him for a suspect.

He said he was forced by Police Captain Mark Joseph Carpio, the team leader of the operations, to include this in his sworn statement—an allegation which was denied by the policeman.

Hontiveros, a known human rights advocate who was vocal against the last administration’s drug war, also pointed out that there are many solutions raised by different groups such as security sector reforms advocates and professional policing groups to address this policy within the police force.

But despite this, she reiterated that the Marcos administration is not yet decided to pursue these reforms.

“Mayaman naman po ang mga ganyang panukala, mga polisiya pero yun na nga gaya ng pinag-usapan natin kanina, hindi pa talaga seryosong nagdedesisyon ang administrasyon ngayon na ipatupad ang mga ito para ayusin talaga ang police organization,” she said.

“Kapag sineryoso yan ni Presidente, kapag sineryoso yan ni Chief PNP, again, walang makakapagsabi na hindi pwedeng magsimulang magbago ngayon pa lang, pero yan ang hinihintay ng mga tao,” she added.

GMA News Online asked Malacanang and former President Duterte through his former executive secretary, Atty. Salvador Medialdea, to comment on Hontiveros’ remarks but they have yet to respond as of posting time.—LDF, GMA Integrated News