7 CALOOCAN COPS DISMISSED FROM SERVICE OVER ALTAR BOY’S DEATH DUE TO LEPTOSPIROSIS

THE National Police Commission has ordered the dismissal from service of seven Caloocan City police officers over the death of an altar boy who contracted leptospirosis after he waded through floods searching for his detained father.

The victim was Dion Angelo Dela Rosa, 20.

In a press briefing on Wednesday, Napolcom Vice Chairperson and Executive Officer Ralph Calinisan said that the cops involved were found guilty of grave misconduct, grave dishonesty, incompetence, oppression, and conduct unbecoming of a police officer.

Calinisan said the findings reveal a clear abuse of power and a blatant disregard for due process and human rights.

“Such actions have no place in the police service,” the Napolcom official said.

The violations stem from the unlawful detention, falsified documentation, and fabricated criminal charges against Jayson Fernandez Dela Rosa, Dion’s father, in July.

Dion reportedly waded through floods amid the southwest monsoon and storms when his father didn’t return to their home in Malabon on July 22.

The altar boy searched the flooded streets of Caloocan for three days until he found his father detained at the substation for allegedly playing kara y krus on July 25.

According to Dion’s family, they didn’t receive any information about Jayson’s arrest.

Two days after, Dion suffered fever and body aches, and later died from cardiac arrest due to leptospirosis.

According to the doctor, Dion had a wound in his foot which had developed into an athlete’s foot after being exposed to floodwaters.

In September, Napocom  filed administrative charges against the seven cops for grave misconduct, grave dishonesty, incompetence, oppression, and conduct unbecoming of a police officer.