A Senate panel on Tuesday, August 22, has cited in contempt two policemen involved in the killing of 17-year old Jerhode “Jemboy” Baltazar and ordered their detention at the Senate. 

The Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, chaired by Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa cited in contempt Navotas City police Captain Mark Joseph Carpio and Staff Sgt. Gerry Maliban.

Carpio was the team leader in the operation while Maliban was allegedly one of the six officers who was the first to fire when Baltazar jumped into the water. 

Senators found the two to be evasive when asked if it was true that Baltazar’s killing was a case of “mistaken identity.”

Initially, Carpio claimed that Baltazar looked like their target suspect named Reynaldo Bolivar, but later said that they didn’t see anyone jumping off the boat, and only saw Baltazar’s companion, Sonny Boy alone in the boat.

But prior to this Carpio pointed to Maliban as the one who fired the shot at the water after Baltazar jumped.

But when Dela Rosa asked Maliban if he indeed shot at the water, Maliban invoked his right against self-incrimination. 

This irked Dela Rosa, especially after Maliban insisted that the case is already in the prosecutor’s office. 

Because of this, Sen. Risa Hontiveros moved to hold the two policemen in contempt for refusing to answer and being evasive during the hearing.

“Because these two refuse to answer the questions in this Senate Committee, P/Staff Sgt. Gerry Maliban and are giving changing, confusing and P/Capt. Carpio is giving untruthful answers…I move to hold the two gentlemen in contempt,” Hontiveros said. 

Sen. Raffy Tulfo echoed Hontiveros motion, prompting Dela Rosa to move and cite them in contempt and ordered their detention at the Senate.

“This will serve as a lesson sa inyong lima. Makipag cooperate kayo sa imbestigasyon dito (You should cooperate in this investigation),” Dela Rosa told the policemen involved.

Hontiveros said she finds it unfair that “Jemboy” who was quietly preparing his livelihood was immediately regarded a suspect by the cops and rained bullets on him.

“Six versus one, according to reports. What do you think of people? A target practice?” the senator lamented.

Hontiveros also pointed out she finds it disturbing that only cases of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide were the charges filed against the cops and not murder.

“They made it appear it was just an accident, that they have no intention of killing the child. I want to know the reasoning behind the filing of such a case. Is all of that part of what they called a new era of policing?” the opposition senator pointed out.