The father of an altar boy in Malabon who died of leptospirosis has filed a case against three police officers. Jayson Dela Rosa, together with his lawyer and Kalookan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David, filed the complaint with the National Police Commission on August 18.
According to Dela Rosa's lawyer, Arnold Valenzuela, CCTV captured the incident where Dela Rosa was falsely accused of robbing a convenience store. Even though the store did not file a complaint, he was still taken to the precinct and charged with violation of PD 1602 or the law against illegal gambling.
Dela Rosa's wrongful imprisonment forced his son, Dion Angelo “Gelo” Dela Rosa, a 20-year-old altar server and student, to search for him. He walked for days and waded through floodwaters in CAMANAVA to find his father. Three days after they met, Gelo fell ill and died on July 27 due to complications of leptospirosis.
Bishop David said the incident was unfortunate because Dela Rosa should have been released without a complainant. He added that most police officers are good people, and the entire institution should not be destroyed just because of a few abusers.
The family is now demanding justice and accountability from the three police officers implicated in Jayson's wrongful imprisonment and the death of his son, Gelo.
