Mayroon pa ring silent tokhang sa ilalim ni Pangulong (There are still ongoing silent “deaths” under President) Bongbong Marcos. Cops acting like murderous and trigger-happy criminals still enjoy being above the law. We call for justice for Jemboy’s family and the speedy and proper resolution of the case.
We condemned the killing of Jerhode “Jemboy” Baltazar, a 17-year-old boy, after six police officers from Navotas shot him because they mistook him for a suspect. They were charged only with the crime of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide, which is less than homicide.
Navotas City police chief Col. Allan Umipig said that the officers were looking for a suspect that allegedly boarded a boat. When police arrived on the scene, they discovered that there was a boat with two people inside, one of whom was Baltazar. Startled, the boy jumped into the river. Without warning or provocation, the police opened fire.
This culture of impunity did not happen overnight, and was systematically built during the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte. That is why we reiterate the call for Duterte to face justice through the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Violence against citizens among the police was encouraged and bred during the time of Duterte. He must face the ICC and answer for every drop of blood on his hands. Dozens of children were killed during his senseless war on drugs, and these children died because Duterte encouraged officers to use violence without restraint. And now, we have a government that tolerates this cycle.
One of the most gruesome deaths during the Duterte administration was the murder of 17-year-old Kian delos Santos. He was killed by three police officers on Aug. 16, 2017, when police accused him, without evidence, of being a drug runner. In a few days, it will be exactly six years since Kian’s death.
Kian died under Duterte, Jemboy under BBM. There may be no explicit tokhang policy today, but the extrajudicial killings continue. Huwag nating payagang umiral ang ganitong sistemang pumapatay sa mga Pilipino, lalo na ang mahihirap at mga kabataan (Let’s not allow this system that kills Filipinos, especially the poor and the young, to exist).