DUMPIT
Starting tomorrow, there’s a new man in charge of Barangay Ermita.
Cebu City Councilor Dave Tumulak had barely spent two days as caretaker of the troubled barangay when he was told by Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña last Friday to step aside in favor of SPO1 Adonis Dumpit.
“I think Dave is more than qualified and he’s done a very excellent job, but I have decided to let Dumpit do it,” he said in a press conference yesterday.
The posts of barangay chairman and seven councilmen will have to be filled temporarily for six months until the incumbent officials have served their suspensions.
Osmeña said if the city government hopes to rid Ermita of the drug menace, then Dumpit is more qualified to take on the drug dealers, who are more afraid of him than Tumulak.
Dumpit was also among the three nominees Osmeña referred to the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) as prospective replacements for Ermita’s suspended Barangay Chairman Felicisimo Rupinta.
The two others were former city councilor Augustus Pe Jr. and Tejero Barangay Chairman Jesselou Cadungog.
The mayor said with Dumpit in charge, it may be their only chance to crack down on illegal drugs in the barangay and clean up the community.
Osmeña said Tumulak will still be there to support Dumpit.
He said this was important to Dumpit because this will give him the chance to show the Cebuanos he can make a major contribution to the community.
“I told (Dumpit), ‘Remember, your appeal is still pending in court. If the judge sees your real contribution, he might feel guilty for convicting you,’” Osmeña said.
Dumpit was convicted of homicide for the death of robbery suspect Ronron Go in 2004 but was granted bail in May last year.
Osmeña clarified that tasks such as signing barangay clearances and vouchers for the salaries of village workers will be left to himself, Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella or the city administrator.
OSMEÑA
He said he will also have lawyer Winifredo Orcullo, Carbon market administrator, help in barangay services such as facilitating burial assistance to residents.
Osmeña said Tumulak was doing a good job, but it would be inefficient to remove him from overseeing city police operations just to focus on one barangay.
While Dumpit serves as the “physical presence” and “visible commander” in the village, the mayor said Tumulak was welcome to help.
Mayor Osmeña said if anyone challenges his decision picking Dumpit as caretaker of Barangay Ermita, he will answer them.
However, Osmeña said President Rodrigo Duterte will override his decision once he confirms eight appointees for the barangay posts.
Osmeña also said he is set to file charges against Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Michael Dino on Monday for obstruction of justice for allegedly asking Rupinta whom he wanted as replacement.
“There are so many side comments on why I’m filing a case against (Dino). Number one, I want to expose him as an influence peddler,” he said, adding that Dino was taped in an interview asking Rupinta whom he wanted as replacement.
Dino denied the allegation, but Osmeña insisted that he was lying. Osmeña said a preventive suspension was meant not to punish but to keep government officials from interfering in the investigation using their position.
He said what Dino allegedly did was a clear case of obstruction of justice.
Dino earlier said he will file counter charges against Osmeña for oral defamation.