The mourning mother of the 17-year-old who was accidentally killed by Navotas police last week has already returned to the Philippines on Friday, August 11.
Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) Rodaliza Baltazar, the mother of Jemboy , arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on a Philippine Airlines flight from Doha at around 10:35 a.m.
The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) together with the Undersecretaries Bernard Olalia and Hans Cacdac as well as Overseas Workers Welfare Administration’s (OWWA) Arnell Ignacio assisted in the repatriation of Baltazar.
IN PHOTOS: Ilang opisyal ng Department of Migrant Workers at Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, personal na sinalubong sa NAIA ang OFW na si Rodaliza Baltazar, nanay ng 17-anyos na si Jemboy Baltazar na napatay ng Navatos PNP kamakailan dahil sa mistaken identity |… https://t.co/ufr5amgks5 pic.twitter.com/hASjF8Hi14
— Christian Maño (@xtian_mano) August 11, 2023
Rodaliza Baltazar sought repatriation assistance after learning that her son was killed by cops in what the Philippine National Police described as a case of "mistaken identity".
According to DMW, Baltazar had been hiding from Qatari authorities and working odd jobs after running away from her employer last year.
Baltazar "conveyed the family’s request for privacy at this time to mourn the loss of her son," the DMW said.
The DMW and OWWA said they provided P100,000 in financial assistance to the victim. The two agencies confirmed they will also shoulder the costs of her repatriation as well as the funeral and burial expenses of her son.
On August 2, six Navotas police were following a suspect in Barangay NBBS Kaunlaran when they thought Jemboy was the suspect hiding on a boat and shot him.
The act was referred to as a "cold-blooded murder" by the rights group Karapatan, which also urged authorities to conduct their operations with proper attention.
Rep. Arlene Brosas of the Gabriela Women's Party condemned the shooting and brought attention to the "culture of impunity" that persists in the country's law enforcement agencies.
The Navotas police admitted that there were lapses in their operation.
The six cops were disarmed and detained.
