Cops treated slain teen ‘like an animal,’ ma cries

MANILA, Philippines — Rodaliza Baltazar is demanding justice for her 17-year-old son, whom she described as having been “treated like an animal” by policemen who killed him in Navotas City.

Shortly after she arrived on Friday from Doha, Qatar where she worked as an overseas Filipino worker (OFW), Baltazar went straight to her home where the wake of her son, Jerhode, is being held.

As she fought back tears, Baltazar criticized the policemen who were responsible for her son’s death in what authorities said was a case of mistaken identity.

“Wala naman pong kaalam-alam ‘yung anak ko tungkol doon, yung hinahanap na target nila (My son did not know about their target),” Baltazar said in an interview aired over ABS-CBN’s “TV Patrol” on Friday night.

Another thing that she could not accept was that policemen treated Jerhode, also known as Jemboy, like an animal.

“Hindi ba nila alam yung itsura nung hinuhuli nila? Tapos yung anak ko yung pinagbabaril nila tapos pinabayaan nila sa ilog (Did they not know what their suspect looked like? They shot my son then left him floating in the river),” Baltazar said.

“Ano po tingin nila sa anak ako? Ano lang pusa o aso na binaril lang nila (What did they think of my son? A cat or dog they shot)?” she said.

What also angered her was that police investigators arrived at the scene five hours after the incident.

Six police officers who were implicated in the teenager’s killing were charged with reckless imprudence resulting in homicide and have been relieved from their posts.

6 cops identified

The Navotas government’s public information office yesterday identified the police officers as Executive M/Sgt. Roberto Balais, Staff Sergeants Antonio Bugayong, Gerry Maliban and Nikko Pines Esquillon, Cpl. Edward Jake Blanco and Pat. Benedict Mangada.

The six and their two immediate supervisors are also facing administrative cases.

Mayor John Rey Tiangco said they were saddened by the victim’s wrongful death at the hands of policemen.

“We at the city government extend our sincerest condolences to the family of the victim and vow to give them the assistance they need,” Tiangco said in a statement.

The policemen were pursuing a suspect in shooting incident when they shot Jerhode.

Brig. Gen. Rizalito Gapas, Northern Police District director, said the police officers had no idea who their target was.

“That was supposed to be a verification kung ano ‘yung target. Yun nga lang, nangyari na ‘yung nangyari, nakakalungkot (That was supposed to be a verification of the target. What happened was unfortunate),” he said in an interview with dzBB radio.