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Police officers accused of the murder of 17-year-old  Jemboy Baltazar arrive for their case promulgation hearing at the Navotas Regional Trial Court in Navotas City on February 27, 2024. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

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JEMBOY BALTAZAR CASE

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/20240227-jemboy-baltazar-case-promulgation-JC-1361.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner"><span dir="ltr" id="isPasted">Police officers accused of the murder of 17-year-old  Jemboy Baltazar arrive for their case promulgation hearing at the Navotas Regional Trial Court in Navotas City on February 27, 2024. <em>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</em></span> </span></span></div><p>MANILA <strong>(UPDATED)</strong> — A Navotas City court has found a police staff sergeant guilty of homicide in the August 2023 killing of Jerhode &quot;Jemboy&quot; Baltazar, a 17-year-old whom police mistook for a crime suspect they were looking for.</p><p>Navotas Regional Trial Court Branch 286 found Police SSgt. Gerry Maliban — the first to fire his weapon in what police said was a case of mistaken identity — guilty of homicide but acquitted Police SSgt. Antonio Bugayong.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/10/05/23/6-cops-linked-to-jemboy-baltazar-killing-surrender">RELATED: 6 cops linked to Jemboy Baltazar killing surrender</a></div><p>The court also found the following guilty of illegal discharge of firearms:</p><p>Police Executive MSgt. Roberto Balais</p><p>Police SSgt. Nikko Esquilon</p><p>Police Corporal Edmard Jade Blanco</p><p>Patrolman Benedict Mangada</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/q2X8BjWl_P4?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><p>&quot;This is a story of hot pursuit operation that ended in tragedy. The death of Jerhode &#x27;Jemboy&#x27; Baltazar, 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 just because that person did not heed his call to surrender,&quot; the court said in its decision.</p><div><br/></div><p>Branch Clerk of Court Anne Kathryn Castro-Diaz said the 4 police officers convicted for illegal discharge of firearms, which carries a penalty of imprisonment of at least 6 months and 1 day, could be released if they have already been detained longer than their sentence. </p><div><br/></div><p>&quot;Kung lalampas na po, yes po. Makakalaya na po yung 4 po,&quot; she said. </p><div><br/></div><p>She added that Bugayong was acquitted because there was no evidence that he fired his gun along with his fellow cops.</p><div><br/></div><p>&quot;Kasi yung 4 , ay admission na sila nagpaputok ng baril — yung fate ng victim galing lang sa isang baril. Hindi napatunayan na nagpaputok si Bugayong Jr.&quot; </p><div><br/></div><p>(Although the 4 admitted they fired their guns — the fate of the victim was affected by just one gun. It was not proven that Bugayong Jr. also fired his gun.)</p><div><br/></div><p>The Baltazar family was dismayed at the court&#x27;s decision, saying Jemboy&#x27;s killers should have been given harsher punishment.</p><div><strong>&#x27;Panic firing&#x27;</strong></div><p>During Senate hearings on the killing, Maliban claimed that he had heard a gunshot, prompting him to shoot into the water of the Navotas River, where Salazar and a companion were cleaning their boat.</p><p>He said that he shot his gun for his safety and to let people know that there were police officers in the area.</p><p>Police officers with him also fired their guns in panic, the Senate hearing found. <strong>— with a report by Zyann Ambrosio, ABS-CBN News</strong></p><div><em><strong>This is a developing story.</strong></em></div>

<p>Navotas RTC Branch 286 found Police SSgt. Gerry Maliban — the first to fire his weapon in what police said was a case of mistaken identity — guilty of homicide.</p>

Navotas RTC Branch 286 found Police SSgt. Gerry Maliban — the first to fire his weapon in what police said was a case of mistaken identity — guilty of homicide.

5 cops convicted in Jemboy Baltazar case

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5 cops convicted in Jemboy Baltazar case

ABS-CBN News

Published Feb 27, 2024 11:00 AM PHT

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Updated Feb 27, 2024 12:30 PM PHT

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Jemboy Baltazar

Philippine National Police

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