Student searching for missing dad dies of leptospirosis

MANILA, Philippines — The National Police Commission (Napolcom) has ordered an investigation into the warrantless arrest of a man whose son died of leptospirosis after wading through floodwaters looking for him for days in Caloocan.

“I have ordered IMIS (Inspection, Monitoring and Investigation Service) to look into the matter,” Napolcom vice chairman and executive officer Rafael Vicente Calinisan said yesterday.

Jason dela Rosa had been arrested by police supposedly for playing cara y cruz, an illegal numbers game, in East Grace Park.

Metro Manila police director Maj. Gen. Anthony Aberin had ordered a separate probe into the incident.

Caloocan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David announced the death of Dela Rosa’s son, Dion Angelo, on July 27, days after he searched for his father who went missing on July 22.

When Dela Rosa failed to return home during the onslaught of monsoon rains, David said Dion Angelo, a third year college student and an altar server, waded through floods for three days looking for him.

Dion Angelo and his mother went to every barangay hall and police station in Malabon, Navotas and Caloocan to file a blotter report for his missing father.

On July 25, Dela Rosa was found at Caloocan police sub-station 2 where he was detained for illegal gambling.

Police allegedly told the family that they needed to pay a bail of P30,000.

The student was not aware that he had contracted leptospirosis, a blood infection usually caused by rat urine. He was found dead at their house by his three-year-old sister on July 27.