A 20-year-old church volunteer in the Philippines tragically died from leptospirosis while searching for his arrested father, sparking widespread social concern. On August 4, Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David of Caloocan Diocese criticized the current Philippine gambling laws on social media for "selective enforcement" that "only targets the poor and spares the big players."
The deceased, Dion Angelo Dela Rosa, was a junior at a university in Malabon City and a long-term volunteer at the diocese. His father was arrested on July 22 for allegedly participating in a street coin-tossing gambling game "Kara y Krus." Bishop David noted that the police detained him without a formal arrest warrant and demanded a 30,000-peso bail. Gelo (Dion's nickname) repeatedly visited a severely polluted neighborhood to care for his father, during which he contracted leptospirosis and eventually died at home, his body discovered by his young sister.
It is reported that the police cited Presidential Decree No. 1602, signed by former President Marcos in 1978, a law criticized for being strict on impoverished communities while lenient towards large casinos and online gambling operators.
In his post, Bishop David questioned why the authorities focus on small street gambling while turning a blind eye to online gambling platforms and underage participation. He directly accused the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) of being "the nation's biggest gambling promoter," justifying online gambling for fiscal reasons. He stated, "If the government is willing to allow gambling to make money, should it also consider legalizing drugs?"
Supreme Court Justice Marvic Leonen had previously expressed a similar view in a ruling, emphasizing that gambling laws should not discriminate based on social class.
The Philippine Catholic Bishops' Conference had already issued a joint pastoral letter in July, calling for the government to completely ban online gambling, considering it a severe social and moral issue.
At the end of his message, Bishop David remarked, "We must reflect on whether we need to lose more young people like Gelo to systemic injustice before society addresses this issue."
