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11 more cops linked to Jemboy Baltazar death, Navotas police chief's relief sought for 'cover-up'
11 more cops linked to Jemboy Baltazar death, Navotas police chief's relief sought for 'cover-up'
The Internal Affairs Service of the Philippine National Police (PNP-IAS) has recommended the relief of Navotas City police chief Col. Allan Umipig for allegedly trying to cover up the involvement of 11 of his men in connection with the death of a 17-year old son of an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) on Aug. 2.
At the same time, IAS Inspector General Alfegar Triambulo has ordered the filing of administrative charges against Umipig and the 11 other policemen who were part of the operation that led to the death of Jerhode Jemboy Baltazar.
Baltazar was shot dead by policemen who mistook him as one of the robbers during a follow-up operation in Barangay NBBS Kaunlaran in Navotas City.
“Upon further investigation of the Internal Affairs Service, it has been discovered that the Navotas Chief of Police instructed the team leader of the operatives to exclude from their reports 11 police officers who were also involved in the fatal shooting of the 17-year-old Jerhode Jemboy Baltazar,” a statement from the IAS read.
Only six policemen were implicated in the operations, all of them were already sacked, placed under restrictive custody and are now facing both criminal and administrative charges.
The first case against the six police officers for grave charges is already at the summary dismissal stage.
The incident put the entire PNP in bad light over allegations of breakdown of discipline, an allegation that was denied by PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda, Jr. who assured the family of the victim that justice will be served.
“Because of this, The Inspector General, Atty. Alfegar Triambulo, has directed charges of dishonesty and command responsibility against the Chief of Police,” the statement read.
Triambulo said a directive was already sent to the director of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Director to have Umipig sacked from his post.
“The IAS will also file charges against the 11 police officers whose identities were initially concealed. They will be charged for abandoning the victim and other possible violations of police operational procedures,” the IAS statement read.