Republic of the Philippines
NATIONAL POLICE COMMISSION
PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE
NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION POLICE OFFICE
NORTHERN POLICE DISTRICT
NAVOTAS CITY POLICE STATION
M.Naval St., Brgy Sipac-Almacen, Navotas City
NCRPO
MEMORANDUM
FOR : DISTRICT DIRECTOR, NPD
(Attn: AC, DPRMD)
FROM : Officer-In-Charge
SUBJECT : Spot Report re: Homicide
DATE : August 2, 2023
1. Reference: Police Blotter Entry No. 402, Page 204, dated August 2, 2023
with the same subject as above.
2. In reference above, please be informed that at about 1:30 PM on August 2,
2023, while the victim was assisting his friend in cleaning their boat, six
members of the Navotas City Police Station were on the lookout for a
murder suspect. They had received a tip from an informant that the suspect
had allegedly boarded a boat. Without verifying the suspect's identity, the
police officers fired a warning shot and then opened fire, causing the victim
to fall into the water.
3. Upon hearing news of the shooting, the family of the victim quickly headed
towards the river. However, the police prevented them from getting close to
the victim who was still in the water. Later on, at around 5 PM, the victim's
family was able to recover the body and identify him as Jerhode Jemboy
Baltazar, a 17-year-old, Fisherman, and a resident of Barangay NBBS
Kaunlaran, Navotas City. It was later discovered by the police that Jemboy
was not their intended target.
4. It has been identified that the police officers responsible for the killing are
PEMS Roberto Balais Jr., PSSg. Antonio Bugayong Jr., PSSg. Gerry
Maliban, PSSg. Niko Pines Esquilon, PCpl. Edmard Jake Blanco, and Pat.
Benedict Mangada. They are currently detained at the Navotas City Police
Station after being relieved of their posts. At a later time, the suspects will
be transferred to the district custodial facility of the Northern Police District
(NPD).
5. For your information, progress report will follow.
JUANITO ARABEJO
Police Captain
Officer in Charge
Republic of the Philippines
NATIONAL POLICE COMMISSION
PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE
NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION POLICE OFFICE
NORTHERN POLICE DISTRICT
NAVOTAS CITY POLICE STATION
M.Naval St., Brgy Sipac-Almacen, Navotas City
NCRPO
MEMORANDUM
FOR : DISTRICT DIRECTOR, NPD
(Attn: AC, DPRMD)
FROM : Officer-In-Charge
SUBJECT : Progress Report re: Homicide
DATE : September 15, 2023
1. Reference:
a. Police Blotter Entry No. 402, Page 204, dated August 2, 2023 with
the same subject as above.
b. Spot report re: Homicide Incident dated August 2, 2023.
2. In connection with the above reference, the police chief of Navotas City
has confirmed that two ground commanders who served as heads of the
six officers will face an administrative case. The six officers are facing a
criminal complaint that has been downgraded from homicide to reckless
imprudence resulting in homicide. Navotas police chief Umipig revealed
that the body camera worn by policemen was turned off. This eliminates
another potential source of evidence in identifying those who fired the
shots.
3. The forensic pathologist, Dr. Raquel Fortun, determined that Baltazar died
from a gunshot wound to the head that resulted in craniocerebral injuries,
with drowning as a contributing factor to his death. Fortun stated that the
teenager could have survived if he hadn't fallen into the water, as the brain
injury was not immediately fatal. Fortun added that the teenager also
sustained a gunshot wound in the hand, which indicates that Baltazar tried
to defend himself when the cops shot at him.
4. In the hearing, Northern Police District Chief Brigadier General Rizalito
Gapas says the six cops tagged as suspects were not subjected to paraffin
tests. The NPD chief, who oversees the Navotas Philippine National Police
(PNP), adds that the six were only physically identified by their team
leaders, PCPT. Mark Joseph Carpio and PCPT. Luisito dela Cruz.
5. The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) has approved the
dismissal of six police officers including PCPT. Mark Joseph Carpio and
PCPT. Luisito dela Cruz who were involved in the killing of Baltazar.
6. Final report will follow.
JUANITO ARABEJO
Police Captain
Officer in Charge
Republic of the Philippines
NATIONAL POLICE COMMISSION
PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE
NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION POLICE OFFICE
NORTHERN POLICE DISTRICT
NAVOTAS CITY POLICE STATION
M.Naval St., Brgy Sipac-Almacen, Navotas City
NCRPO
MEMORANDUM
FOR : DISTRICT DIRECTOR, NPD
(Attn: AC, DPRMD)
FROM : Officer-In-Charge
SUBJECT : Final Report re: Homicide incident
DATE : October 5, 2023
1. Reference:
a. Police Blotter Entry No. 402, Page 204, dated August 2, 2023 with
the same subject as above.
b. Spot report re: Homicide Incident dated August 2, 2023.
c. Progress report re: Homicide Incident dated September 15, 2023.
2. That on about 1:30 PM on August 2, 2023, while the victim was assisting
his friend in cleaning their boat, six members of the Navotas City Police
Station were on the lookout for a murder suspect, Reynaldo Bolivar. They
had received a tip from an informant that the suspect had allegedly
boarded a boat. Without verifying the suspect's identity, the police officers
fired a warning shot and then opened fire, causing the victim to fall into the
water.
6. Upon hearing news of the shooting, the family of the victim quickly headed
towards the river. However, the police prevented them from getting close to
the victim who was still in the water. Later on, at around 5 PM, the victim's
family was able to recover the body and identify him as Jerhode Jemboy
Baltazar, a 17-year-old, Fisherman, and a resident of Barangay NBBS
Kaunlaran, Navotas City. It was later discovered by the police that Jemboy
was not their intended target.
3. It has been identified that the police officers responsible for the killing are
PEMS Roberto Balais Jr., PSSg. Antonio Bugayong Jr., PSSg. Gerry
Maliban, PSSg. Niko Pines Esquilon, PCpl. Edmard Jake Blanco, and Pat.
Benedict Mangada. They are currently detained at the Navotas City Police
Station after being relieved of their posts. At a later time, the suspects will
be transferred to the district custodial facility of the Northern Police District
(NPD).
4. The police chief of Navotas City has confirmed that two ground
commanders who served as heads of the six officers will face an
administrative case. The six officers are facing a criminal complaint that
has been downgraded from homicide to reckless imprudence resulting in
homicide. Navotas police chief Umipig revealed that the body camera worn
by policemen was turned off. This eliminates another potential source of
evidence in identifying those who fired the shots.
5. The forensic pathologist, Dr. Raquel Fortun, determined that Baltazar died
from a gunshot wound to the head that resulted in craniocerebral injuries,
with drowning as a contributing factor to his death. Fortun stated that the
teenager could have survived if he hadn't fallen into the water, as the brain
injury was not immediately fatal. Fortun added that the teenager also
sustained a gunshot wound in the hand, which indicates that Baltazar tried
to defend himself when the cops shot at him.
6. In the hearing, Northern Police District Chief Brigadier General Rizalito
Gapas says the six cops tagged as suspects were not subjected to paraffin
tests. The NPD chief, who oversees the Navotas Philippine National Police
(PNP), adds that the six were only physically identified by their team
leaders, PCPT. Mark Joseph Carpio and PCPT. Luisito dela Cruz.
7. On September 15, 2023, the National Capital Region Police Office
(NCRPO) has approved the dismissal of six police officers who were
involved in the killing of Baltazar along with the team leaders PCPT. Mark
Joseph Carpio and PCPT. Luisito dela Cruz were dismissed for serious
grave neglect of duty because they did not personally supervise their team
during the operation.
8. The Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group
(PNP CIDG). The CIDG reported that the police officers surrendered to the
CIDG provincial field unit in Lucena City, Quezon on October 4 at around 5
PM. The suspects surrendered on the same day that a warrant for their
arrest was issued by Judge Pedro Dabu Jr. of Navotas City Regional Trial
Court Branch 286, which was publicized by the Department of Justice.
9. On February 27, 2024 at 1:07 PM, the Navotas Regional Trial Court
Branch 286 announced the verdict in the case of the killing of 17-year-old
Jerhode "Jemboy" Baltazar by six police officers. PSSg. Gerry Sabate
Maliban was found guilty of homicide and was sentenced to up to six years
and four months in prison. Additionally, he was ordered to pay a total of
P100,000 in civil liability and moral damages. The other officers involved in
the case, PEMS Roberto Balais Jr., PSSg. Niko Pines Esquilon, PCpl.
Edmard Jake Blanco, and Pat. Benedict Mangada, were found guilty of
illegal discharge of firearms and were sentenced to four months and one
day in prison.
10. PSSg. Antonio Balcita Bugayong was acquitted. Aside from not admitting
that he fired his gun on the day Jemboy was killed, the court noted that a
paraffin test of his firearm yielded negative results for gunpowder. the court
said, "Although the absence of a gun powder is not conclusive evidence
that the gun was not fired, the negative result of gunpowder is
corroborative evidence”. It added the witness, "Sonny Boy" said the “fat
man” firing his gun at the dike was not Bugayon. The court stated that the
absence of gunpowder is not conclusive evidence of a gun not being fired,
but it can be considered corroborative evidence. It added the witness, alias
Sonny Boy said the “fat man” firing his gun at the dike was not Bugayon.
11. For your information and please acknowledge the receipt.
JUANITO ARABEJO
Police Captain
Officer in Charge
