The Navatos City Regional Trial Court is set to hand down its ruling tomorrow, February 27, regarding the killing of 17-year-old Jerhode “Jemboy” Baltazar, who was fatally shot by local law enforcement officers after being misidentified as a murder suspect.
Irrespective of the court’s decision, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla disclosed that a press conference will be held at the Department of Justice (DOJ) by Jemboy’s friends and kin following the verdict.
Six police personnel stand accused of murder in connection with the highly publicized incident. They are identified as M/Sgt. Roberto Balais Jr., Staff Sergeants Antonio Bugayong Jr., Gerry Maliban, Nikko Pines Esquilon, Cpl. Edmard Jade Blanco, and Pat. Benedict Mangada.
On August 2, Jemboy and a companion were engaged in boat cleaning along a river near their residence when law enforcement officers arrived.
Despite issuing a warning shot, the officers proceeded to open fire, resulting in Jemboy’s death.
Law enforcement authorities asserted that the teenager leaped from the boat and attempted to swim away in the river, where he was subsequently shot by the police.
However, Jemboy’s family contends that he fell into the water after sustaining gunshot wounds.
Subsequent investigations revealed that Jemboy was not the intended target of the police operation.
Police claimed they were pursuing a suspect involved in a shooting incident within the locality and had received information that the perpetrator had boarded a boat.