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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'Balik sa pito at batuta': Acorda orders review of policies on use of guns in arresting law offenders

'Balik sa pito at batuta': Acorda orders review of policies on use of guns in arresting law offenders

Published Feb 27, 2024 08:51 am

Gen. Benjamin Acorda, chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), has ordered a review of existing policies on the use of firearms of all uniformed personnel as he insists that the use of guns must always be the last resort in any operation.

Acorda issued the order after a Navotas court convicted a police staff sergeant Gerry Maliban for homicide in connection with the death of Jemboy Baltazar who died at the hands of the Navotas policemen over a case of mistaken identity.

Maliban was sentenced to four to six years imprisonment and ordered to pay P50,000 while four other policemen Police Staff Sergeant Niko Pines Esquilon, Police Executive Master Sergeant Roberto Balais Jr., Police Corporal Edmard Jake Blanco and Patrolman Benedict Mangada, were also convicted for illegal discharge of firearms and were penalized with four months prison terms.

PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said Acorda has been pushing for strict observance of the police operational procedures in any operations, which includes the cops’ use of firearms only to defend themselves.

“As an offshoot of this incident, our Chief PNP, gen. Benjamin Acorda, Jr., issued a directive for the review of existing police operational procedures, particularly on the use of firearms,” said Fajardo.

“One of the discussions is the mandatory use of baton and whistle so that in accosting a suspect and if there is a need to apprehend, they do not need to resort first to the use of firearms,” she added.

Baltazar was cleaning a fishing boat in Navotas in August 2023 when he was mistaken to be a robbery suspect by pursuing policemen. He died when the cops used their guns in dealing with him.

It turned out that he was not the suspect being pursued and the local police leadership said it was a lapse in police operational procedures. 

Those convicted were already dismissed from the service.

Fajardo welcomed the court decision, saying the case served as an eye opener to all policemen about strictly following police operational procedures. 

“While this happened while the policemen were performing a duty, they should have not used their firearms in the first approach in apprehending a suspect,” said Fajardo.

“Any kind of misdemeanor whether it is a light misdemeanor or grave offenses has corresponding criminal cases shall be filed against them and the administrative machineries will be immediately implemented to make sure that they would be held accountable,” she added.

Related Tags

Jemboy Baltazar Philippine National Police Benjamin Acorda Jr.
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