QUEZON CITY, (PIA) --Interior & Local Governmwnt Secretary Benhur Abalos Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benhur Abalos assured the family of the teenage boy who was killed during a police operation in Navotas last week,that justice will be served over the unfortunate incident.

Abalos, on Thursday, visited the wake of 17-year-old victim identified as Jerhode “Jemboy” Baltazar, who was killed after responding police officers allegedly mistook him for being a suspect they were pursuing last August 2, 2023.

He also assured that administrative and criminal cases have already been filed against the involved police officers, who are all currently detained.

tinatawag na command responsibility, kung up to what level (ang liability) para hindi na maulit ito,” Abalos said.

The six police officers involved in the incident have undergone inquest proceedings for homicide before the Navotas prosecutor’s office and are currently detained.

Rodaliza Baltazar, mother of Jemboy Baltazar, comes home to the Philippines on Friday, August 11.
Rodaliza was an overseas Filipino worker in Qatar when she learned that her 17-year-old son was killed by Navotas cops in a mistaken identity case. (dilg/ pia-ncr)

“The PNP (Philippine National Police) acted swiftly in this incident. Nakakulong na ang mga pulis na sangkot at gumugulong na ang imbestigasyon. I am a father myself at alam ko ang sakit ng mawalan ng anak kaya pangako ko sa mga magulang at kaanak ng biktima, bibigyan natin ng hustisya ito,” Abalos said.

Due to the incident, the DILG chief called on the PNP leadership to revisit their operational procedures during police operations to avoid similar incidents from happening again and to determine the liability of police officers on the basis of chain of command.

“Magkakaroon kami ng meeting with the PNP leadership at pag-uusapan namin kung anong dapat gawin dito. We will revisit all of their modes of procedure at ‘yung