A Navotas City regional trial court (RTC) has ordered the arrest of six policemen charged with a non-bailable case of murder for the killing of teenager Jerhode Jemboy Baltazar last Aug. 2.
Ordered arrested were PSSg. Gerry S. Maliban, PSSg. Antonio B. Bugayong Jr., PEMS. Roberto D. Balais Jr., PSSg. Nikko PInes C. Esquillon, PCpl. Edmar Jade S. Blanco, and Pat. Benedict D. Mangada -- all members of the Navotas City police station.
The arrest order was issued last Tuesday, Oct. 3, by Judge Pedro T. Dabu Jr. of RTC Branch 286.
In his order, Judge Dabu said "the Court finds probable cause to issue a warrant of arrest against all the above-named accused to place them under the custody of the law in order not to frustrate the ends of justice.”
“Considering that the accused stand charged with Murder, they are not entitled to bail as a matter of course,” the judge also said.
The murder charge was filed before the RTC last Monday, Oct. 2, by the Department of Justice (DOJ).
Baltazar was fishing when he was shot dead last Aug. 2 in Barangay NBBS Kaunlaran in Navotas City.
The policemen claimed that they were conducting follow-up operations against robbers when they mistook the victim as one of the suspects.