The National Police Commission (Napolcom) has ordered the dismissal of seven Caloocan City policemen after they were found liable in administrative cases arising from the illegal arrest of a man whose son died of leptospirosis in July after wading through floodwaters while searching for his father.
Napolcom Vice Chairperson and Executive Officer Ralph Calinisan announced that the Commission en banc unanimously voted to remove the seven officers from the Philippine National Police (PNP).
Among those dismissed were two ranking officers holding the positions of Police Captain and Police Lieutenant.
“This is a strong message that abuses in the ranks of the PNP will not be tolerated. The Commission remains firm in its mandate to cleanse the police service of erring personnel,” Calinisan said.
“We are watching you and we will stop you, that is also why we are showing this as proof that justice is quick at the Napolcom,” he said in a press briefing on Wednesday, Dec, 10.
The case stemmed from the arrest of Jayson dela Rosa who was reported missing since July 22.
At the height of the Southwest Monsoon, his son Dion waded through floodwaters for three days to search for his father. On July 24, he went to the Caloocan City police station to check and seek assistance but the police were reported to have denied the presence of Jayson.
The policemen also reported that the father was arrested on July 25.
It turned out that Jayson was detained for illegal gambling.
Dion later suffered from leptospirosis and died as a result of complications. His family blamed the cops for not telling the truth.
In the decision, the Napolcom said they obtained sufficient pieces of evidence that Jayson was already under police custody on July 22, or two days after his family seek police assistance to locate him.
Calinisan said the policemen were found guilty of grave misconduct, grave dishonesty, oppression, incompetence, and conduct unbecoming of a police officer.
He said the ruling showed the Napolcom’s firm stance against abuses in the police service. (Aaron Recuenco)
