Navotas City Police Station (NCPS) Chief Col. Allan Umipig on Monday, Aug. 14, confirmed that 27 city police personnel were relieved from their post following the death of a 17-year old boy who was shot by six operatives after they mistook him for a suspect behind a shooting incident in Barangay NBBS in the city on Aug. 2.

Umipig clarified that the relieved law enforcers are not directly involved in the shooting of the victim but are personnel assigned to the NCPS Sub-station 4, who will undergo a refresher training for different police operational procedures.

The area where the shooting of the victim, identified as Jemboy Baltazar, happened is under the NCPS Sub-station 4’s jurisdiction, he said.

Jemboy was shot dead by six NCPS Sub-station 4 operatives who were part of  a team conducting a follow-up operation  at a river near Babansi Street, Barangay NBBS Kaunlaran to arrest a suspect in a separate shooting incident who was reported to have been seen in the area.

Upon their arrival, they noticed Jemboy, along with one alias “Sonny Boy,” hiding in a boat. They tried to convince the two men to surrender as they thought that one of them was the suspect that they were looking for.

The operatives fired gunshots towards Jemboy who jumped into the river which led to his death.

The body of the victim was allegedly retrieved several hours after the incident.

The six policemen who reportedly shot the victim immediately turned themselves in at the NCPS Headquarters.

Homicide charges against the six policemen were filed by Sonny Boy (witness) and the victim’s family at the Navotas City Prosecutor’s Office on Aug. 3. They are also facing administrative charges, including irregularities in the performance of duty, and conduct of unbecoming of a police office.

Their two supervisors were also facing administrative charges due to command responsibility.

In a phone interview with Manila Bulletin, Northern Police District (NPD) director Brig. Gen. Rizalito Gapas said that all the members of the police force in the cities of Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, and Valenzuela (Camanava) will undergo a refresher training on police operational procedures, human rights, laws of engagement, usage of firearms during operations, among others.

The trainings will be conducted by phases and the 27 relieved NCPS personnel would be the first to take the refresher course.

Gapas said that 27 member of the District Mobile Force Battalion were assigned to the NCPS Sub-station 4 to replace the relieved NCPS officers.

Umipig said that he was able to talk to the victim’s family, who accepted his offer to provide security escort during the victim’s wake.

He said the family chose the non-uniformed personnel, who are their neighbors, to be assigned during Jemboy’s wake in the barangay.

Uniformed NCPS personnel were also assigned around the area to ensure the safety and security of the family and other residents.

Umipig said the victim’s interment will be held on Wednesday, Aug. 16, at the La Loma Cemetery in Caloocan City.

Gapas said the incident is still under investigation.