MANILA (UPDATE) — Commission on Human Rights Chairperson Richard Palpal-latoc has recommended that the entire police force undergo retraining after Navotas City policemen fatally shot 17-year-old Jemboy Baltazar in a supposed case of mistaken identity.

While Palpal-latoc welcomed the Northern Police District's announcement of a refresher course for its police personnel, the CHR chief said this should be done nationwide.

“Hindi lang dapat sa istasyon na yon, dapat the entire police force meron. In fact meron din naman ngayon na existing na training na ibinibigay sa kanila on human rights,” Palpal-latoc said.

(It shouldn't be limited to that station, the entire police force should have one. In fact, we have an existing training for them on human rights.)

• CHR probes killing of teenager by cops; PNP says no whitewashing

Palpal-latoc noted that the Philippine National Police already has its operational procedures and guidelines with a human rights-based approach.

“Kung susundin mo lang nang tama yun, maiiwasan ang paglabag sa karapatang-pantao,” Palpal-latoc said.

(If you follow that properly, rights abuses could be avoided.)

Baltazar was shot by police officers after he supposedly jumped from a boat into the river when he was ordered to surrender.

Palpal-latoc also stressed the importance of police personnel using the body-worn cameras issued to them.

The policemen involved in the killing of Baltazar supposedly did not use their body cameras.

They were sacked and are now facing administrative and homicide charges.

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Meanwhile, Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos said he will be reviewing the doctrine of command responsibility and the PNP's three-strike policy, following the incidents involving cops.

"What we see is giving more flexibility to our Chief PNP. While the three-strike policy is good, he does not have to wait for three strikes if he thinks that the lapses have magnitude effects... He could remove (the commander) immediately... We should have that elbow room to the Chief PNP as far as I am concerned... There are a lot of things (police operational procedure) that came from old laws. The terminologies are old so we need to update." he said.

Abalos also denied there was a breach of discipline in the PNP, adding that Baltazar's death and the alleged robbery incident in Cavite involving cops are "isolated cases".

Based on data from the Department of Interior and Local Government, from July 1, 2022 to August 2, 2023, a total of 583 cops have been dismissed from service due to violations, 129 were demoted, 978 were suspended, 81 had their salary forfeited, 424 were reprimanded, 61 were imposed with restrictions, and 48 had their privileges withheld.

- with a report from Raya Capulong, ABS-CBN News

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