Death of altar server sparks concern over police misconduct, arbitrary arrests

The death of a 12-year-old altar server in Caloocan has raised public concern over alleged police misconduct and arbitrary arrests.

Dion Angelo Dela Rosa contracted leptospirosis after wading through floodwaters while searching for his father, who had been detained by police.

His father, Jayson Dela Rosa, was arrested for allegedly playing cara y cruz (coin toss), considered illegal gambling under an old Philippine law—a charge he and his counsel maintain was baseless.

“This highlights a stark irony: while the poor are charged for playing cara y cruz, nothing is being done against the country’s largest gambling operator, the government itself, through PAGCOR’s online gambling operations,” Caloocan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David wrote in a viral post.

With Bishop David’s support, Jayson filed an administrative complaint before the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM).

NAPOLCOM Commissioner Rafael Vicente Calinisan assured the public that the case would be investigated and accountability pursued.

Records also showed that Jayson had earlier been arrested on July 22 for alleged shoplifting, but even after the store owner chose not to press charges, he remained detained for four days.

Jayson admitted his fault in that case but decried what he described as an injustice after being held instead on a separate gambling charge.

Bishop David, in a media conference last August 18, said arbitrary arrests had “already become a culture tarnishing the name of the good police.”

“This is total injustice. We have to put an end to this culture of impunity,” NAPOLCOM Vice Chairperson and Executive Officer also said.