5 ex-cops in Jemboy Baltazar killing walk free after promulgation

Five of the six former policemen charged for the killing of 17-year-old Jerhode “Jemboy” Baltazar after they mistook him for a fleeing suspect have been released from jail hours after a court ruled on their case. 

The five were released on Tuesday afternoon, February 27, from the jail facility of the Bureau of Jail Management ang Penology in Taguig City following the promulgation of the verdict by the Navotas Regional Trial Court Branch 286. 

Though found guilty of illegal discharge of firearms, four of the former policemen — Police Executive Master Sergeant Roberto Balais Jr., Police Staff Sergeant Nikko Pines Esquilon, Police Corposals Edmard Jade Blanco and Pat Benedict Mangada — were set free as their four-month prison sentence was deemed served, taking into account their preventive imprisonment that began on October 6 last year.

“Lumampas ng ilang araw, technically time served na po sila noong binaba ang desisyon ng korte,” explained BJMP spokesperson Jail Chief Inspector Jayrex Bustinera. 

(They’ve been detained longer than four months so technically they have already served their time by the time the court released its decision.)

A fifth former policeman, Police Staff Sergeant Antonio Bugayong Jr., was ordered released by virtue of an acquittal. 

Only Police Staff Sergeant Gerry Maliban remained behind bars as he faces a jail term of four to six years after he was convicted for Baltazar’s death.

“Ang sentensya niya ay lampas ng tatlong taon kaya kailangan po base sa patakaran ng BJMP kailangan siya malipat sa Bureau of Corrections. According sa warden within the week mata-transfer na siya,” said Bustinera. 

(His prison sentence is longer than three years and based on BJMP rules he should be transferred to the custody of the Bureau of Corrections. According to the warden he will be transferred within the week.)

Baltazar was killed in a hot pursuit operation in Navotas City on August 2, 2023 after policemen mistook him for the suspect they were chasing. 

“This is a story of a hot pursuit operation that ended in tragedy. The death of Jerhode Jemboy Salazar, who is not the suspect, could have been avoided had a police officer applied self-restraint, for a police officer is not justified in shooting a person because that person did not heed his call to surrender,” the Navotas RTC said in its ruling. —KBK, GMA Integrated News