RIGHT TO LIFE | Groups echo louder calls for justice over police killing of minor in Navotas

August 11, 2023 , 03:08 PM

(August 11, 2023) – More lawmakers, public figures, and cause-oriented groups have expressed their outrage over the killing of a 17-year-old boy at the hands of officers of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in a case of mistaken identity in Navotas City.

On Thursday night, PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. visited the wake of Jemboy Baltazar and talked to his family members, vowing justice and accountability for the boy who was shot dead last August 2.

“When it comes to the conduct of the investigation, we will be exerting all our efforts so the truth will come out in this investigation,” said Acorda.

Acorda said he will meet with Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) secretary Benhur Abalos Jr. to discuss ways on how to prevent a similar incident from happening in the future.

Abalos, who also visited the wake yesterday, ordered the PNP to review its operational procedures following Baltazar’s death.

“We will revisit all of their modes of procedure at ‘yung tinatawag na command responsibility, kung up to what level (ang liability) para hindi na maulit ito,” said Abalos.

Baltazar was fixing and cleaning a boat with a friend when six police officers arrived and shot him, mistaking for a murder suspect. His father said the cops stopped him from immediately rescuing the boy after falling into the water. His mother has arrived from Qatar.

His case recalled the cases of extrajudicial killings under the administration of former president Rodrigo Duterte under the brutal war on drugs. Some lawmakers have already called for an inquiry into Baltazar’s death to seek accountability over the erring cops.

Sen. Risa Hontiveros strongly condemned the killing of Baltazar. While the involved cops were already charged, Hontiveros asked why they are only facing reckless imprudence resulting to homicide instead of homicide.

“Malinaw na labag sa batas at sa mismong regulasyon ng PNP ang biglaang pagpapaulan ng bala sa isang sibilyan na hindi armado at wala namang ginagawang masama,” said Hontiveros.

Sen. Bato Dela Rosa, a former PNP chief, said the involved officers must be held liable administratively and criminally. He also reiterated calls for a review into the courses implemented by the PNP to ensure that their personnel are undergoing proper trainings.

Kabataan Party-List supported the independent probe by the Commission on Human Rights (CHR).

“‘Di lang ito simpleng protocol violation. Kultura ito ng kawalan ng pananagutan sa ilalim ng ‘kill, kill, kill’ policy ni dating pangulong Duterte at sa kanyang pekeng gera kontra droga na pinagpapatuloy ngayon,” the party-list said.

The CHR said its motu proprio investigation aims to ensure accountability on the part of the state agents involved.

“CHR stresses the importance of upholding the right to life. Lapses leading to the curtailment of a person’s life is a grave and irreversible violation of a human right,” its statement reads.

Meanwhile, human rights organizations said the authorities cannot justify their use of unreasonable force that killed Baltazar just because they thought he was a suspect. Karapatan pointed out that the authorities should always exercise due diligence in any of their operations.

“It is far worse to hear that they continued shooting when the victims were already in submission,” said Karapatan secretary-general Cristina Palabay. “The killings are clearly not over. And these killings continue because it remains part of the police’s orientation and mindset to kill, kill, kill.”

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