A court decision in Navotas regarding police officers involved in the death of 17-year-old Jerhode “Jemboy” Baltazar has sparked dissatisfaction among rights groups and individuals. The Navotas Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 286 convicted five out of the six cops charged with murder in the shooting of Baltazar. However, the court imposed lighter penalties on the officers, deviating from the murder charges recommended by the Department of Justice.
During a press conference with the Baltazar family, Senator Risa Hontiveros criticized the justice system, stating that impunity still exists. Former Justice Secretary Leila De Lima also expressed disappointment with the court’s decision, saying that justice was not fully served for Baltazar. Rights groups, including Karapatan and the Free Legal Assistance Group, lamented the lighter penalties given to the police officers involved in the case.
The National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL) described the accountability of police officers in the Philippines as a “tedious challenge,” highlighting the difficulty in holding authorities responsible for their actions. The Department of Justice announced plans to appeal Baltazar’s case to the Court of Appeals, indicating their intent to pursue murder charges against the police officers involved in the incident.
