Norman Dumpit gazes at a framed photo of his father, SPO1 Adonis Dumpit, at the latter’s wake at the Cebu Cosmopolitan Funeral Homes along Jonquera St., Cebu City on June 29, 2018.
Despite being a decorated police officer, SPO1 Adonis Dumpit will not receive any police honors.
Chief Supt. Debold Sinas, the director of Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO-7), in a press conference yesterday that they will not give police honors to Dumpit since he was killed in a police operation against illegal drugs.
“It was a legitimate operation (so) walay police honors during his (burial). I already informed Bohol Provincial Police Office (BPPO)…because (he was) a bad example of being a policeman,” said Sinas.
In his 20 years in the police force, Dumpit received awards and commendations and was dreaded by Cebu City’s underworld characters in the 2000 for hunting down petty criminals.
He made waves for purging Cebu City of criminals with the full support of Mayor Tomas Osmeña and headed a group of elite cops and sharp shooters, tagged as “Hunter Team.”
But PRO-7 was firmed that there was no reason to give any honors to a cop, despite his earlier reputation, who ended his police career with involvement in the illegal drug trade, an allegation vehemently denied by his immediate family.
Even as his inclusion in the list of narco-cops was still under investigation, Sinas said there was no question that he died amid allegations that he was a big time drug dealer operating in Bohol.
Dumpit was intercepted by the operatives along F. Dagohoy Circumference Road in Purok 1, about 200 meters from his rented house in Barangay San Isidro, Tagbilaran City at past 8 a.m. on Wednesday, June 27.
It was a joint operation conducted by PRO-7’s Regional Intelligence Division (RID-7) and the National Bureau of Investigation in Central Visayas (NBI-7).
The team from NBI – Bohol, led by lawyer Rennan Oliva, tagged Dumpit as a drug protector, and allegedly had links to several drug lords.
Authorities said that Dumpit was supposed to deliver illegal drugs to Cabawan District in Tagbilaran City the day he was intercepted and allegedly attempted to shoot it out with policemen and NBI agents before he was gunned down.
The operatives were able to recover 15 medium sized sachets of white crystalline substance believed to be shabu with a street value of P90,000.
No family benefits
Aside from denying him police honors, Dumpit’s family will not also get death benefits, except for the monetary equivalent of his unused leave credits.
“His family will only received unused or credited leaves. The rest wala na siyay madawat (he will not receive other benefits),” said Sinas.
Josephine, Dumpit’s ex-wife and the mother of his son, was not surprised by the decision of PRO-7 but still hoped that the Philippine National Police hierarchy would reverse it.
Nanghinaot mi (that PRO-7 will change its decision). Iampo lang na namo. Walay imposible sa prayer,” said Josephine. (We are still hoping that PRO-7 will change its decision. We will pray for it. We know nothing is impossible through prayers)
Josephine, however, said that they have also contacted a lawyer and would refer all data and communication that stated that the slain policeman was no longer entitled to any death benefit due to his family.
Can’t come to the wake?
In an interview with GMA-7 Cebu, Josephine said that since the start of the wake of Dumpit in a funeral parlor in downtown Cebu City, she has not seen any police officer visiting the wake.
“Walay ni ari dinhi (police officers). Sukad nigikan siya sa Bohol, kami ra sa akong anak (here). Wala gyud maski police assistance, wala gyud,” said Josephine. (No police officer came here. Since his body arrived from Bohol, only me and my son were here. There was no police assistance as well)
Josephine’s lamentation came amid claims that friends and colleagues of Dumpit in the police force were prohibited from visiting his wake.
But Sinas denied they were stopping Dumpit’s classmates from paying their last respects to him but admitted that they would take the photos of policemen who would visit his wake.
“Wala man gibawalan. Picture-an lang namo sila. Moadto sila walay problema picture-an lang nga nangadto mo. Kun mahadlok sila problema nana nila,” said Sinas.
(We did not prohibit them. We will just take their picture. If they will go then we will take a picture that they went there. If they are now afraid to go there, then that’s their problem)
‘I am Sorry he is gone’
Cebu City Councilor Dave Tumulak asked PRO -7 to allow Dumpit’s colleagues to visit his wake without having their pictures taken.
“It’s not only disrespecting SPO1 Adonis Dumpit but also it disrespects the police,” he said.
In turn, he also urged police officers who are acquainted with Dumpit not to be afraid to go to his wake, especially if they have done nothing illegal and only wanted to bid him goodbye.
“As a Christian, it is our moral obligation to pay respects to our close friends nga namatay na (who have died),” said Tumulak.
Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña, in a Facebook post last night, said: “Adonis touched many lives in Cebu. Whatever the truth is, I am sorry he is gone.”
Dumpit’s remains arrived from Bohol last Thursday and now lie in Cosmopolitan Funeral Homes in Junquera Street, Cebu City.
Although the family was yet to finalize Dumpit’s internment date, Tumulak said the policeman might be buried this Monday, July 2.
He also urged investigators from PRO-7 and NBI -7 for a speedy and thorough investigation on Dumpit’s death.
“Thorough investigation is needed so everything will be impartial. Proper verification is needed so that the living relatives will know what really happened,” explained Tumulak. WITH MOREXETTE MARIE B. ERRAM AND BENJIE B. TALISIC