Navotas City Police Chief Police Colonel Allan Umipig has been relieved from his post and will be facing an administrative complaint in connection to the fatal shooting of the 17-year-old teenage boy Jemboy Baltazar.
In a memorandum signed by the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) dated August 15, the "failed to supervise the conduct of police operation and corresponding investigation hence, he is liable under the Doctrine of Command responsibility."
The NCRPO also noted the irregularity and neglect of duty exist on the part of the PNP personnel after it was learned that no body cameras were used during the incident. They likewise failed to justify the use of firearms and observe proper procedures during armed confrontations.
Aside from Umpig, 14 other police personnel were relieved from their post following the killing of Baltazar on August 2 in Brgy. NBBS Kaunlaran due to mistaken identity. They are facing criminal and administrative complaints for failing to help the wounded during the police operation and for grave misconduct.
The NCRPO also ordered the relief and the filing of complaints for neglect of duty against Station Investigation and Detective Management Section head PCpt. Juanito Arabejo and chief clerk PCMS Aurelito Galvez.
Arabejo and Galvez failed to subject the suspects to paraffin examination and to preserve and record the evidence, according to the NCRPO.
Baltazar will be laid to rest at the La Loma Cemetery on Wednesday afternoon, August 16.
Last August 2, six policemen of Navotas City Police Substation 4 shot the Baltazar after mistaking him for another person during an operation.
Human rights group Karapatan condemned Jemboy’s death and stressed the need for all police personnel to exercise due diligence.
