Navotas ex-cop found guilty of homicide in Jemboy Baltazar case

Police secure six Navotas cops accused in the killing last year of 17-year-old Jerhode “Jemboy” Baltazar as they arrive for the promulgation at the Navotas Regional Trial Court on Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024. Baltazar, who was cleaning a boat at that time, was mistaken for a shooting suspect. DANNY PATA

A Navotas court on Tuesday found one former police officer guilty of homicide for the killing in August 2023 of Jemboy Baltazar, the 17-year-old who was killed after he was mistaken as a suspect.

Rodaliza Baltazar, his mother, said the court sentenced former Police Staff Sergeant Gerry Maliban to four years in jail. The case filed against him was for murder.

“Siya po apat na taon lang siya makukulong. ‘Yung anak ko habang buhay na wala. Pinagtulong-tulungan nila ‘yung anak ko barilin tapos ano? Gano’n lang? Makakalaya lang sila,” Baltazar said in an ambush interview

(He will only be convicted for four years. My son is gone forever. They helped each other in shooting him and now what? That’s it? They’re going to go free?)

“Sana maramdaman nila din ‘yung nararamdaman ng pamilya ko ngayon na sobrang sakit na pagkawala ng anak ko. Sana sila rin,” she added.

(I hope they feel what my family is feeling right now — intense pain at the loss of my son. I hope they feel it too.)

Rodaliza Baltazar made the remark following the promulgation of the case at the Navotas City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 286.

The court also convicted Police Executive Master Sergeant Roberto Balais Jr., Police Staff Sergeant Nikko Esquilon, Police Corporal Edmark Jake Blanco, and Patrolman Benedict Mangada for the illegal discharge of firearms.

Meanwhile, the RTC acquitted Police Staff Sergeant Antonio Bugayong.

“Ano po ‘yung buhay ng anak ko ano lang, parang aso lang o kaya pusa na ilang ano lang nila paghihirapan tapos parang wala silang ginawa. Parang nasaan po ‘yung hustisya, ‘yung katarungan para sa anak ko?” she said.

(My son’s life is likened to a dog or a cat’s life. They only tried for a short while and then nothing. Where is the justice for my son?)

“Ilang taon lang po ‘yung anak ko, may pangarap pa po siya. Wala na po dahil pinatay po nila ng walang dahilan. Wala pong kaalam-alam ‘yung anak ko, wala pong kasalanan,” she added.

(My son was only 17 years old. He had dreams. But they’re all gone because they killed him for no reason. My son didn’t know anything. He didn’t do anything.)

Baltazar died on August 2 while on his way to go fishing after he was shot by Navotas City policemen who were pursuing a shooting suspect in Barangay NBBS Kaunlaran.

A companion who was with Baltazar said they were preparing their boat when a policeman ordered them to get off. They reportedly tried to give themselves up, but the police officers allegedly kept on shooting, prompting Baltazar to dive into the water.

The police later claimed it was a case of mistaken identity. Some of the six cops who were initially reported to be involved in the incident said in their affidavits that they fired shots into the water and that they did not intend to hit Baltazar.

The autopsy found that Baltazar was hit twice, on the head with an entry wound behind the ear and an exit wound on the nose, while the other shot hit him on the right hand.

According to his death certificate, Baltazar’s cause of death was a gunshot wound to the head as well as asphyxia from drowning. —KG, GMA Integrated News

This article Navotas ex-cop found guilty of homicide in Jemboy Baltazar case was originally published in GMA News Online.