SIX Navotas City cops charged in the killing of 17-year-old Jerhode Jemboy Baltazar last August surrendered to the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) last Wednesday.
A report from the CIDG said the six turned themselves into the CIDG Provincial Field Unit (PFU) at Camp Guillermo Nakar in Lucena City at 5 p.m.
The six are Executive Master Sergeant Roberto Balais Jr.; Staff Sergeants Gerry Maliban, Antonio Bugayong Jr.; and Nikko Pines Esquilon; Corporal Edmard Jade Blanco; and Patrolman Benedict Mangada.
The six have been relieved from the Navotas City police station and charged with the killing of Baltazar in what police said was a case of mistaken identity.
Navotas City policemen responding to a shooting incident in Barangay NBBS Kaunlaran last August 2 nabbed one of the suspects. The other managed to escape.
Policemen later conducted a follow-up operation in a river where one of the suspects was reportedly sighted.
Baltazar was shot dead by the policemen after he dove into the water when the lawmen asked him and his companion to get off their boat. It later turned out that Baltazar was not involved in the shooting incident.
Last Tuesday, Navotas City judge Pedro Dabu Jr. issued arrest warrants against the six and recommended no bail.
“The suspects who voluntarily surrendered themselves (to) CIDG Quezon PFU are now undergoing booking process and documentation for proper disposition,” a CIDG report said.
The six policemen were transported to the PNP national headquarters in Camp Crame yesterday.
CIDG director Maj. Gen. Romeo Caramat Jr. commended the six policemen for surrendering, saying “they are willing to face the consequences of their actions.
“This is also proof that we, the PNP, remain firm in our commitment of cleansing and disciplining our ranks to maintain the trust and confidence of our community in this organization,” said Caramat.
PNP spokesman Col. Jean Fajardo said the six policemen surrendered to the CIDG Quezon Provincial Field Unit because one of them had a relative assigned to the unit.
“There were warrants of arrest issued against them and I think that triggered their surrender… They coordinated with their lawyer and decided to surrender yesterday (Wednesday) afternoon to the CIDG,” said Fajardo.
“In the presence of their lawyer, they said they are going to face the charges filed against them before the court,” said Fajardo.
