Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 22) — Senator Risa Hontiveros on Tuesday asked the Philippine National Police (PNP) to ensure the protection of the witness in the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Jemboy Baltazar in Navotas City supposedly due to mistaken identity.
Hontiveros said that the witness claimed that a police officer wanted to make it appear that the teenager was using illegal drugs.
\”Sinabihan po ang isang witness ng isang armado, na nagpakilalang pulis na ‘Sabihin na may droga is Jemboy.’ Amin itong kinompirma sa abogado niya,\” she said during the Senate Public Order and Dangerous Drugs Committee’s probe on Baltazar’s killing.
[Translation: The witnessed was told by an armed man, someone who identified himself as a police officer, to say that ‘Jemboy has drugs on him.’ We confirmed this with the lawyer of the witness.]
\”Before this committee, before our chair, before the leadership of the PNP na nandirito, hinihingi ko po sa ating kapulisan na tiyakin ang kaligtasan ng witness na ito,\” Hontiveros added.
[Translation: Before this committee, before our chair, before the leadership of the PNP who is present right now, I am asking our police to ensure the safety of this witness.]
Hontiveros did not give further details on the witness, but she said the person is not yet part of the government’s witness protection program.
The senator added she will hold the PNP accountable should anything happen to the witness or the witness’ family.
\”At kung may, wag naman sana, may mangyari sa kanya at sa sinumang miyembro ng kanyang pamilya, ay kayo po, ang ating mga alagad sa PNP…kayo po ang pananagutin ko,\” said Hontiveros.
[Translation: Just in case something bad happens to the witness and to the members of the family, I will make the PNP accountable for it.]
Baltazar was killed during the police operation on Aug. 2 in Brgy. NBBS Kaunlaran in what the police said was a case of mistaken identity. Police claimed that Baltazar bore similarities with their target suspect identified as Reynaldo Bolivar.
Moreover, Hontiveros also questioned why only charges of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide were filed against the Navotas police suspects.
\”Parang ang lumalabas na aksidente lang ang nangyari, na walang intensyong pumatay nang pinaulanan nila ng bala ang bata,\” she said.
[Translation: It seemed now that it was just an accident and there was no intention to kill the minor with bullets.]
The victim’s camp already filed a motion earlier to upgrade the charges to murder.
Meanwhile, the PNP admitted the police involved in the operation had lapses in following operational procedures.
\”Lumalabas sa aming inquiry na may lapses sa pagsunod sa police operational procedure, internal discipline, at policies on command responsibility sa mga pulis na nasangkot,\” said PNP Deputy Chief for Administration Rhodel Sermonia.
[Translation: Based on our inquiry, the involved cops had lapses in following the police operational procedure, internal discipline, and policies on command responsibility.]
