THE Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs yesterday cited in contempt two members of the Navotas City Police Station for refusing to directly answer questions on what really transpired when 17-year-old Jemboy Baltazar was killed in a mistaken identity case.
Senate deputy minority leader Risa Hontiveros moved that Police Capt. Mark Joseph Carpio and Police Staff Sergeant Gerry Maliban be cited in contempt after they refused to say what really happened last August 2.
Hontiveros’ motion was seconded by Sen. Raffy Tulfo, which prompted Sen. Ronald dela Rosa to approve the motion.
“Because Staff Sergeant Maliban refuses to answer the questions of this committee, and because of his inconsistent (narratives), confusing, and obvious lying of Police Captain Carpio, I move to hold the two gentlemen in contempt,” Hontiveros said.
Dela Rosa said Maliban was identified by witnesses as one of the cops who fired his gun while Baltazar was in the water, an allegation the cop refused to confirm or deny.
Dela Rosa said the contempt order should be a fair warning to the other cops who will refuse to cooperate when the panel holds another hearing on August 29.
Hontiveros then asked Lt. Gen. Rhodel Sermonia, who represented PNP chief Benjamin Acorda Jr., to provide the committee with the details of the guns used in the operation and the results of the ballistics examination to determine which gun or guns were used in shooting Baltazar to death.
