Son dies of leptospirosis after wading in floodwaters in search of missing father

A 20-year-old college student died of leptospirosis after days of wading through floodwaters to search for his missing father, who was later discovered to have been detained without a warrant.

- By HANNAH NICOL

Dion Angelo "Gelo" Dela Rosa was a third-year student taking up Human Resource Services at the City of Malabon University. He was also the eldest of six siblings and a church sacristan. He died on Sunday night, July 27, after days of exposure to dirty floodwater while looking for his father.

But the Caloocan City Police Station denied allegations that Dela Rosa's death was connected to the arrest of his father and said it happened under circumstances unrelated to the police operation.

"Based on verified reports and timelines, the unfortunate death of the youth due to leptospirosis is not related to the arrest of the father. The health-related incident occurred under different circumstances that have no casual connection to the police operation," it said.

In light of questions raised about possible lapses during the arrest, the Caloocan police reiterated their commitment to transparency and accountability. They encouraged the family to file a formal complaint if officers failed to notify them about the arrest, assuring the public of a thorough investigation.