Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 29) — Rodaliza Baltazar, the mother of slain teenager Jemboy Baltazar, on Tuesday denied police’s claims that her family did not want an autopsy performed on her son’s body.
Police Capt. Sonny Boy Tepace, chief of the Northern Police District Forensic Unit, said they have a copy of a sworn statement from Jemboy’s sister, stating that their family no longer wants a post mortem examination.
Senator Raffy Tulfo, however, said authorities should have reached out to the victim’s parents regarding the matter.
“Sino dapat ang unang kinonsulta ninyo? ‘Di ba dapat ang protocol is the mother or the father? Tapos next in line yung mga kapatid,” he said before the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs.
[Translation: Who should you consult first? The protocol says it should be the mother or father, right? Then the next in line should be the siblings.]
The Baltazar matriarch arrived from Qatar on Aug. 11, a week after her 17-year-old son was fatally shot by policemen due to a case of mistaken identity.For her part, Rodaliza said that her husband was in the country when the incident happened.
“Nandun po yung asawa ko… Buhay pa yung asawa ko’ she said. “Dapat mayroon din siyang karapatan na tanungin kung ano ang gagawin sa anak ko.”
[Translation: My husband was there… He is still alive. He should have the right to be asked on what should be done to our son.]
Forensic pathologist Racquel Fortun did an autopsy on Jemboy’s cadaver and found that the teenager had been shot in the head and drowned.
Witness
Rodaliza also confirmed that Sonny Boy, Jemboy’s companion when the police operation happened, told them about a cop who wanted him to make it appear that her son was using illegal drugs.
“Si Sonny Boy lang po nagsabi sa amin na, na sinabi daw ng pulis na ‘yun, na para daw maano yung ano ng mga pulis, na hindi masira, sabihin na si Jemboy ay may baril po daw at may droga,” she said.
[Translation: It was Sonny Boy who told us that the police wanted him to say that Jemboy had a gun and drugs with him. So that the credibility of the police will not be damaged.]
Moreover, Rodaliza said that she fears for her family’s safety after what happened to her son.
“‘Di ba po marami sila? Ano po laban namin na isang pamilya lang po namin? Hindi po namin alam. Natutulog lang po kami, baka mamaya babarilin po yung bahay namin,” she told the senators.
[Translation: Aren’t there a lot of them? What chance does our family have against them? We don’t know. Maybe they’ll shoot us while we’re sleeping.]
Senator Ronald Dela Rosa assured the Baltazars that he would make the Philippine National Police responsible for whatever should happen to them during the investigation.
“I will hold them responsible and accountable kapag may mangyari sa pamilya ninyo,” he told them.. “Pangako ko ‘yan sa inyo.”
