The companion of slain teenager 17-year-old Jerhode “Jemboy” Baltazar told a Senate panel on Wednesday, Aug. 30, that the police investigator formerly handling the case altered the statement that he gave regarding the incident.
During a hearing of the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, chaired by Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, Sonny Boy Aguistilo, Baltazar's friend and the last person he was with before he died, stated that Chief Master Sgt. Aurelito Galvez who was the case investigator altered his statement.
He also affirmed when asked by Sen. Risa Hontiveros if he signed a statement that was untrue out of fear from the police officers.
"Kasi napakahaba po ng salaysay na ibinigay ko sa kanya eh, pagdating po kay fiscal, sobrang ikli lang po yung nakita ko (I gave a lengthy statement but when it arrived at the fiscal attorney, I saw that it was shortened)," Aguistilo explained.
Augistilo also mentioned that he was told by Police Capt. Mark Joseph Carpio that for the sake of the police officers who will be relieved of duty, he should put in his statement that Baltazar had illegal drugs on him and was armed.
Both Galvez and Carpio refuted these allegations.
Allegedly, prior to taking his statement, Aguistilo said that he was punched thrice on his side by a cop which he claimed Carpio knew who he said was a small man with a mustache. He also mentioned that it's a member of the Station Anti Illegal Drugs (SAID) group.
"Naka tokong, tapos naka jacket (He was wearing shorts and a jacket)," he said.
"Nakita ko po ang mukha pero hindi ko siya masyadong kilala sa pangalan (I saw his face but I don't know his name)," he added.
Meanwhile, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada told Carpio that Baltazar's friend has nothing to gain from lying about the statement being altered.
Sen. Raffy Tulfo even challenged Galvez to a polygraph test citing his experience in the past wherein police officers would change the statements of complainants as well as witnesses. Galvez agreed at first to the polygraph test but later declined after being reminded by Dela Rosa that it was within his right to refuse it.
The Assistant City Prosecutor of Navotas City Atty. Arvin Carael was then invited to shed light on the matter. He said that he asked Aguistilo if he understood and if the statement he was about to sign was true. But during that time, Carael said that Aguistilo did not mention anything about the statement being altered.