The chief of the Navotas City Police Station (NCPS) was relieved from his post following the death of Jemboy Baltazar, the 17-year-old boy who was shot and killed by six city operatives after they mistook him for a suspect in a shooting incident last Aug. 2.

Northern Police District (NPD) Director Brig. Gen. Rizalito Gapas said on Wednesday, Aug. 16, that NCPS Chief Col. Allan Umipig was relieved from his post for his failure to supervise the operation properly and for command responsibility based on the results of the thorough investigation they conducted after the incident.

"Si Col. Umipig will be put on administrative relief para po magbigyan ng daan yung pagiimbestiga at masagot niya yung administrative charge or complaint na ipapataw sa kanya (Col. Umipig will be put on administrative relief to give way to the investigation and so that he can answer the administrative charge or complaint that will be filed against him)," Gapas said in an interview with Manila Bulletin.

The NPD director said that 22 NCPS personnel, including the six policemen and the investigator on the case, were also relieved from their posts and were charged with various criminal and administrative charges.

Gapas said that among the issues they considered on the relief of the NCPS chief and his personnel were the six operatives' failure to wear body cameras during the operation; their failure to conduct paraffin tests on the policemen, present and collect evidence needed in the investigation; and why they allegedly left the body of the victim after the shooting, among others.

The incident happened at around 1 p.m. on Aug. 2, wherein members of the NCPS Substation 4 conducting a follow-up operation along Babansi Street, Barangay NBBS Kaunlaran, called for Jemboy and alias "Sonny Boy" to surrender after they thought that one of them was the murder suspect they were tracking down. The two men reportedly hid in a boat.

Jemboy jumped into the river which prompted the six NCPS policemen to shoot at him, which resulted in his death. His body was allegedly recovered hours after the incident.

It was also reported that the six operatives were not wearing body cameras during their operation.

Earlier, Col. Umipig told Manila Bulletin that further investigation revealed that one of the policemen was equipped with a body-worn camera.

He added that the operative claimed that he did not notice that the camera's battery had died.

The six operatives are currently under police custody and were charged with homicide and other administrative cases including conduct of unbecoming of a police officer, reckless imprudence resulting to homicide, and for failure to wear their body-worn cameras.

Gapas clarified that although lapses were found during the operation that led to the death of the teenager, the team initially went to the area to arrest an armed murder suspect, which required them to be alert and ready in case of an encounter.

"Sa isang banda, nagsasakripisyo na din, they are putting their lives there (on the line). Kung totoo man yun na yun na yung suspect na armado din, maybe the story is totally different. Baka police natin ang namatay doon sa pagkakataon na yun (On the other hand, they are also making sacrifices, they are putting their lives (on the line) there. If it is true that the suspect was also armed, maybe the story is totally different. Maybe our police died there at that time)," he added.

"Hindi buong kapulisan ang nagkamali dito. Kasi policies are already there, set up, para hindi mangyari ito. Kung may nangyari naman rito, nakaset up din yung mga rules natin para parusahan yung mga nagkasala (It was not the entire police force that made the mistake here. Because policies are already set up to prevent this from happening. In case something happened, our rules are also set to punish the guilty)," he said.

He also assured the public that those who are found responsible for the incident will be held accountable for the death of the teenager.

He also thanked those who participated and provided information that helped in their investigation.

"Totoo pong paminsan-minsan merong pumapalpak, merong nakakalimot sa mga regulation. Pero umaasa po kami sa participation ng community, maipaabot ito sa amin para kami ay makaaksyon din ng tamang pagiimbistiga, proper na pagsiyasat kung anong ang dapat naming aksyon (It's true that sometimes people make mistakes, they forget the regulations. But we are hoping for the participation of the community, it can be passed on to us so that we can also take action with a proper investigation and of what action we should take)," he added.

Gapas had earlier said that 27 NCPS Substation officers were relieved from their post to undergo refresher training for police operational procedures such as laws of engagement, when to use their firearms, and human rights.

The victim's interment will be held at the La Loma Cemetery on Wednesday, Aug. 16.