By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan
MANILA – Three police officers assigned in Caloocan City are facing criminal complaint for allegedly fabricating a gambling case against two people, one of whom was the father of the 20-year-old student who reportedly died of leptospirosis while searching for his father in the rain.
In a press conference at the Northern Police District (NPD) headquarters, Caloocan City chief of police Col. Joey Goforth said a perjury complaint was filed before the city prosecutor’s office against the three officers, including the commander of Police Substation 2. The police officers have already been relieved from their posts.
The student’s father, Jayson Dela Rosa, was detained at the Caloocan City Police Substation 2 in July, along with another suspect, Manuel Jazul.
“Kinasuhan natin sila ng perjury, doon sa commander, sa opisyal. Perjury by direct inducement. Perjury doon sa dalawa. Arbitrary detention dahil doon sa pagpapakulong ng ilang araw. And yung incriminatory machination sa pagfi-file ng maling kaso (We charged them with perjury, the commander, the official. Perjury by direct inducement. Perjury to the two officers. Arbitrary detention for detaining the victim for several days. And incriminatory machination for filing a wrong case),” said Goforth.
According to Goforth, Dela Rosa was initially arrested for theft at a convenience store, but the store did not press charges. Meanwhile, Jazul was arrested for allegedly entering a private residence, but the homeowner also refused to press charges. The police later charged the two with illegal gambling.
NPD Director Brig. Gen. Jerry Protacio clarified that detainees have to be released if no case is filed against them within the prescribed legal time limits.
“Ang sinisiguro at tinitiyak namin ay ang mga ganitong klase ng paglabag sa itinakdang polisiya ng Pambansang pulisya ay mananagot ang ating mga personnel na gagaya ng paglabag… hindi po kami nangingimi na mag-file at ikulong ang ating pulis na nagkasala (We would like to assure the public that our personnel who will commit the same violations would be made accountable for this type of violation of policies of the national police… We will file and send erring police officers to prison),” he stressed.
Protacio said he had already ordered the removal of the detention cells at the police sub-stations in Caloocan.
Last Monday, Dela Rosa lodged an administrative complaint before the National Police Commission (Napolcom) against the three police officers and two more Caloocan City Police Substation 2 personnel. (PNA)
