Deadly mistaken identity

Here we go again. It never ends. Six Navotas police officers were disarmed and are currently under restrictive custody at the Northern Police District headquarters in Caloocan City. This is related to their shooting and killing of Jerhode Jemboy Baltazar, 17 years old, who was preparing to go fishing with his friend. The policemen, probably Navotas’ finest, were looking for a suspect in a murder committed earlier. The suspect allegedly hid in a boat. So, the first thing the police did when they saw two people on a boat was to open fire. No questions. Nothing.

Baltazar jumped into the water. Who wouldn’t panic when police start shooting at you, especially when you know you’re innocent? But even after jumping into the water, the police continued to fire into the water. Baltazar was hit in the face and eventually drowned. The police did not give the two boys a chance to identify themselves. They see two boys in a boat, it must be them, so they pull out their guns and fire.

Of course, the PNP goes on damage control. They admit operational lapses were committed on the part of the Navotas police. We’ve heard that reason many times. If operational lapses often occur, then the police are not being trained properly on the correct operational procedures, right? “The PNP is sad and worried over these incidents involving our police officers. Nevertheless, the PNP leadership is continuously doing its best to correct the errors and inadequacies of our personnel on the ground,” according to PNP public information chief Col. Redrico Maranan. “We do not tolerate wrongdoings of our police officers, whether these are intentional or accidental. Our disciplinary machinery is effective. Our records will (prove) that police officers who are found to have committed errors or abuses are penalized.” The six are now facing criminal complaints of homicide.

The six Navotas policemen police admitted it was a case of mistaken identity but claimed they did not intend to kill Baltazar. Really? Why did a supposed witness say that they kept shooting into the water when Baltazar jumped in? If that is not intent to kill or harm, I don’t know what is. According to Police Captain Anthony Mondejar, chief of operations of the Navotas police, warning shots are prohibited. Was there a threat to the policemen for them to open fire? Were the two boys armed? Who wouldn’t be wary of policemen, if it is so easy for them to make mistakes such as mistakenly identifying someone resulting in a deadly outcome? How can the relatives, in this case the parents of Baltazar accept an explanation like that?