Jemboy Baltazar’s parents to appeal ‘unacceptable’ court decision

The family of mistaken identity victim Jemboy Baltazar on Wednesday said they will appeal the court’s decision on the six former policemen linked to the killing, five of whom were convicted.

“Hanggang dulo ilalaban po talaga namin kahit buhay namin i-aano namin para lang makuha namin yung histisya para sa anak namin,” Jemboy’s mother Rodaliza told GMA Integrated News’ Unang Balita.

(We will fight until the end to get justice for our son even if we have to sacrifice our lives.)

“Iyong [Department of Justice], pinangako po nila na tutulungan nila kami na i-apela iyong kaso para mabuksan po ulit yung kaso ng anak ko,” she added.

(The Department of Justice vowed to help us appeal the case so it will be reopened.)

For Jemboy’s family, the court decision was disappointing and unacceptable because only one of the six accused will remain in jail.

“Bakit isa lang po iyong nakulong tapos iyong lima po makakalaya? Sobrang dismayado po kami sa naging desisyon sa pagkawala ng anak ko,” Rodaliza said.

(Why only one will be imprisoned but the five are free? We are very disappointed with the decision on my son’s case.)

“Hindi ho katanggap-tanggap (it was unacceptable),” Jessie, Jemboy’s father, said for his part.

Asked if the family would present more evidence during the appeal, Rodaliza pointed out that the police conspired to supposedly cover up the crime and limit the access to evidence.

According to her, instead of the cops, another person retrieved the body of Jemboy from the river. She added that the cops allegedly did not look for evidence or witnesses to help their family.

“Parang nagsabwatan na po sila para pagtakpan po nila iyong kapwa nila pulis. Iyon po iyong inaano namin, iyon po iyong naging kultura sa lugar po kasi namin. Mahirap na nga po kami, nahihirapan pa po kami hanapin iyong hustisya para sa anak ko,” she said.

(It seems that they conspired to shield their fellow policemen. That has become the culture in our area. We are poor and we are also struggling to find justice for my son.)

Of the six former policemen charged for Jemboy’s killing, the Navotas Regional Trial Court Branch 286 found only Police Staff Sergeant Gerry Maliban guilty of homicide with a sentence of four to six years imprisonment.

The court also found guilty Police Executive Master Sergeant Roberto Balais Jr., Police Staff Sergeant Nikko Esquilon, Police Corporal Edmark Jake Blanco, and Patrolman Benedict Mangada for illegal discharge of firearms with a sentence of four months and one day imprisonment.

Police Staff Sergeant Antonio Bugayong, meanwhile, was acquitted.

On Tuesday, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla ordered the DOJ to appeal the decision handed by the court against the accused former police officers.

DOJ spokesperson Mico Clavano said the decision will be appealed before the Court of Appeals through the Office of the Solicitor General.

Rodaliza said the family wants a longer sentence for all the accused.

“Makulong po sila nang matagal para pagdusahan nila iyong nagawa nilang kasalanan sa anak ko. Sila po makukulong lang pero iyong anak ko patay na. Hindi na po makakabalik,” she said.

(They should be imprisoned for a long time so that they suffer for what they did to my son. They will just go to jail but my son is dead. He will never go back.)

Jemboy died on August 2, 2023 while on his way to go fishing after he was shot by Navotas City policemen who at that time were pursuing a shooting suspect in Barangay NBBS Kaunlaran.

A companion who was with Jemboy 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 Jemboy 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 Jemboy.

Based on the autopsy, Jemboy 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, Jemboy’s cause of death was a gunshot wound to the head as well as asphyxia from drowning. —KBK, GMA Integrated News