The father of the altar server, who died from leptospirosis after wading through flooded waters searching for him, has filed an administrative complaint against the police officers who allegedly engaged in “pangsakto” or wanton arrests to meet their quota.
Accompanied by Kalookan Bishop Pablo Virgilio Cardinal David, Jayson Dela Rosa filed the charges before the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) in Quezon City on Monday.
“The NAPOLCOM will always be on the side of truth and justice. We will ensure that every complaint is given due process, for no policeman is above the law, and every citizen deserves protection under it,” NAPOLCOM Commissioner Rafael Vicente Calinisan said.
Jayson’s son, Dion, waded through the flooded streets of Caloocan in search of his father, who did not return to their home on July 22.
On July 25, Dion found his father detained at the substation after he was arrested for playing cara y cruz (coin toss), an illegal gambling under an old Philippine law.
On July 27, Dion had a fever and body aches. He slept after eating. He was later found dead after a cardiac arrest as a result of leptospirosis, the report said.
Jennelyn said the doctor called attention to Dion’s wound, which she said has developed into athlete’s foot (alipunga) due to constant exposure to floodwaters.
Jayson was released on August 2. Jennelyn said her husband could have been a victim of “pangsakto” of the police or wanton arrests to allegedly meet their quota.
The Caloocan police had denied the “pangsakto” allegations, adding that they immediately informed other stations when Jennelyn, Dion’s mother, sought help.
Dion was laid to rest on Aug. 10.
Cardinal David celebrated the Mass during the wake for Dion, and in his homily he said, “It feels like Good Friday today. Even without the procession of images depicting the Way of the Cross, we feel Christ’s suffering and death in what Gelo and his family have endured.”
According to Raffy Tima’s “24 Oras” report, Jayson filed the charges against three Malabon police officers.
“Meron kaming reklamo ng arbitrary detention sa mga pulis, perjury dahil nagsinungaling sila doon sa affidavit nila sa korte, at incriminating innocent persons, among others po,” Jayson’s lawyer Atty Arnold Valenzuela said.
(We have filed complaints of arbitrary detention against the police, perjury for lying in their affidavits submitted to the court, and incriminating innocent persons, among others.)
Based on the CCTV footage presented by NAPOLCOM, Jayson was arrested for alleged shoplifting, but the convenience store owner did not file any charges against him after he returned a bottle of cologne.
However, the police detained him and filed charges for illegal gambling.
Charges filed
Cardinal David said, “Parang hindi naman tama na sa isang bote ng pabango kakasuhan mo ng illegal gambling ‘yung tao at hindi mo aaminin na inaresto mo at dinetain mo.”
(It’s not right to file illegal gambling charges against a person who allegedly stole a bottle of cologne, and deny that he was arrested and detained.)
“May part po talaga na naging kasalanan ko nung time na yun pero yung kinargahan nila ako ng kaso, medyo unfair po sa akin,” Jayson said.
(I admit I did something wrong during that time, but it’s unfair that they filed charges against me.)
David also said some police have been fabricating charges just to justify the arrest of innocent people.
“Naging kalakaran, so naging kultura siya. Nakaaawa ang mga mabubuting police dahil helpless sila sa ginagawa ng ilang mga kasahan nila na nang-aabuso,” the prelate said.
(It has become a norm and part of the culture. I sympathize with the good police who are helpless against the abuses committed by some of their fellow cops.)
Napolcom Commissioner Calinisan said, “This is total injustice, so we really have to put a stop to it. No stone unturned. We will put an end to this culture of impunity. Tapos na. Pagod na pagod na ako sa mga ganitong storya (We have to put an end to it. I’ve had it with these kinds of stories).”
The station commander of the police substation handling Jayson’s case will also be investigated.
“Mas marami pa ang involved dito kasi kasama na dito yung investigator on the case, yung mga nag-refer nitong kaso na alam naman nila na gawa-gawa lang yun kaso,” said Edman Pares, staff service director of inspection, monitoring, and investigation service.
(There are even more people involved in this, including the investigator on the case and those who referred it, even though they knew the charges were fabricated.)
NAPOLCOM said it will issue a suspension order against the three involved police officers.
It also urged the public to report abuses committed by the police. — BAP, GMA Integrated News
