Young Man Dies from Leptospirosis While Searching for Missing Father
A young man died from leptospirosis after days of searching through floodwaters for his missing father, who was later found detained for alleged illegal gambling.
For three days, Dion Angelo Dela Rosa searched through flooded streets in hopes of finding his father, Jayson, who went missing after leaving their home in Barangay Longos, Malabon, on July 22, 2025. At the time, Metro Manila was experiencing widespread flooding due to heavy monsoon rains and successive typhoons. Jayson had left to accompany one of their children to work but failed to return, which alarmed his family, as he usually informed them of his whereabouts. He also left without his cellphone.
Dion searched parts of Caloocan, while his mother, Jennelyn, searched around Malabon. They eventually discovered that Jayson had been detained at a Caloocan police substation. He was arrested for allegedly playing kara y krus, a coin-toss game considered illegal under an old law. Jennelyn said the family was never informed of his arrest. Sadly, Jayson never got to see his son again.
On July 27, Dion developed a fever and body aches. He later died of cardiac arrest caused by leptospirosis, an infection linked to prolonged exposure to contaminated floodwater. Doctors noted an infected wound on his foot that had worsened due to frequent contact with floodwater.
Jayson was released from detention on August 2. Jennelyn believes her husband was wrongfully arrested as part of a supposed police “quota system,” where individuals are allegedly detained to meet performance targets. Caloocan police denied this claim and insisted Jayson was arrested on July 25. They also stated that efforts were made to contact his family, though no communication was made.
Caloocan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David, who knew Dion as an altar server, condemned the incident. He criticized the outdated gambling law for disproportionately targeting the poor, while major gambling operators continue to avoid prosecution. He pointed out the sad irony that children today can easily gamble online, while a father was jailed for a coin toss. The bishop called the tragedy a painful example of how flooding, poverty, and unjust arrests continue to affect the most vulnerable.