GABRIELA Party-list Representative Arlene Brosas on Wednesday strongly condemned the killing of a 17-year-old boy by policemen in Navotas City, which they admitted was a case of mistaken identity.

“The killing of Jemboy Baltazar is a harsh reminder of how the Philippine National Police brutally killed Kian Delos Santos in 2017 under the Duterte administration’s war on drugs,” Brosas said.

“It is appalling that young lives are being cut short due to the trigger-happy actions of law enforcement officers. This shoot-first-ask-questions-later attitude is a manifestation of the culture of impunity in the country which continues to intensify under the Marcos Jr. administration,” she added.

Jemboy was allegedly mistaken for a suspect and shot multiple times.

Gabriela Women’s Party-list called for a thorough and impartial investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident and said that responsible policemen must be held accountable for their actions.

“We demand justice for Jemboy Baltazar and his family. The police officers involved must face the full force of the law. It is crucial that we put an end to police violence and ensure that the rights and lives of all individuals, especially the youth, are protected,” Brosas said.

“We stand in solidarity with Jemboy’s family and all victims of police violence. We will submit a House resolution to investigate the brutal actions of the Philippine National Police against the very citizens they are tasked to serve and protect,” Brosas added.

The lawmaker also vowed to continue to push for reforms in the Philippine National Police to address the deeply rooted problems within the institution.