5 Caloocan cops sacked

MANILA, Philippines — Five Caloocan policemen have been relieved from their posts following the alleged arbitrary arrest of a man whose son died of leptospirosis after wading through floodwaters searching for him.

The five, including a substation commander, were reassigned to the District Personnel Holding and Accounting Section. They are facing administrative and criminal charges, Northern Police District (NPD) director Brig. Gen. Jerry Protacio said yesterday.

“They are now under restrictive custody to prevent them from influencing the investigation,” he said.

Jayson dela Rosa, accused of shoplifting at a convenience store on July 22, had been brought to a substation, but the logbook showed no record of his arrest.

“That alone is already an irregularity,” Protacio said. “If there is no complainant or evidence, the procedure is to release the suspect after a blotter and medical check-up. But in this case, there was no blotter, no record.”

The case drew attention after Caloocan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David said Dela Rosa’s son Dion Angelo, a college student and an altar server, died of leptospirosis after wading through floodwaters to look for his then-missing father.

Dela Rosa, who was detained ostensibly for playing the flip-coin betting game cara y cruz, was also slugged by a civilian while in police custody, Protacio said.

“A civilian punched him and the police just allowed it. That is neglect of duty,” Protacio said.

The NPD is preparing charges against the civilian.

Caloocan police chief Col. Joey Goforth said the policemen’s actions do not reflect the entire city police force.

“This is an isolated case. Misconduct and lapses in duty have no place in the police organization,” he said.