The Navotas City Regional Trial Court Branch 286 has issued arrest warrants for several police officers accused of the murder of 17-year-old Jemboy Baltazar.
The warrants target the following individuals: PSSg Gerry Maliban, PSSg Antonio Bugayon, Jr., PEMS Roberto Balais, Jr., PSSg Nikko Esquilon, PCpl Edward Jade Blanco, Pat Benedict Mangada, and John Does.
The court order, signed by Judge Pedro Dabu, Jr., came after a thorough evaluation of the city prosecutor’s resolution and supporting evidence, which included the autopsy report and firearms identification report, among other pertinent documents.
In its ruling, the court stated, “Considering that the accused stand charged with murder, they are not entitled to bail as a matter of course.”
According to the information filed by the Navotas City prosecutor’s office, the accused officers allegedly conspired through a series of successive fires, resulting in the tragic death of Baltazar on August 2.
The incident was initially reported as a case of mistaken identity, with the police officers involved resorting to “panic firing” during their operation.