SPO1 Adonis Dumpit will soon be free after the Court of Appeal granted his petition for bail. At left, incoming Cebu City mayor Tomas Osmeña promises to take care of Dumpit’s P250,000 bail bond. (CDN PHOTO/LITO TECSON)
SPO1 Adonis Dumpit got a pleasant birthday present yesterday.
The Court of Appeals (CA) Cebu Station on Friday granted his petition for bail, giving him temporary freedom while his case is on appeal.
The controversial policeman is set to post P250,000 bail on Monday, his lawyers said.
Incoming Mayor Tomas Osmeña said he will take care of Dumpit’s bail.
“He needs adjustment in the outside world. I will be his big brother, bodyguard and everything. I will take care of his bail,” he said.
Dumpit was Osmeña’s close-in bodyguard and aide when the latter was mayor of Cebu City. Osmeña said he will get Dumpit as his aide once he posts bail.
In his resolution, Associate Justice Pablito Perez of the CA 20th Division found no sufficient basis to deny Dumpit’s application for bail.
“Considering that the accused-appellant (Dumpit) has been in detention for six years or for a period already equivalent to the minimum period of his sentence and has exhibited good behavior as a detainee, there is no showing of any circumstances that will warrant denial of bail pending appeal,” said Perez whose ruling was approved by Justices Pamela Ann Maxino and Gabriel Robeniol.
Dumpit, however, cannot leave the country without first seeking the approval of the appellate court.
HOMICIDE
Dumpit was convicted of homicide in August 2014 for shooting dead a 17-year-old robbery suspect in Cebu City almost 10 years ago.
Regional Trial Court Judge Ester Veloso sentenced the policeman to six to nine years and four months of imprisonment and ordered him to pay P50,000 to the heirs of the victim.
Dumpit, who was tagged in the deaths of three crime suspects and the wounding of a dozen more since the late ’90s, was originally charged with murder for the death of Ronron Allosada Go in Barangay Tejero on Dec. 14, 2004.
But the judge lowered the charge to homicide, saying the prosecution failed to prove that there was “treachery and use of superior strength” by
Dumpit when he shot Go.
Dumpit’s lawyers elevated the case before the CA and asked that the policeman be allowed to post bail while his case is on appeal.
They cited Dumpit’s good behavior inside the jail and that he already spent the minimum number of years of his jail term.
CLEAR
In their petition for bail, Dumpit’s lawyers, Pedro Leslie Salva and Benjamin Militar, said sole purpose in appealing the case is to clear Dumpit’s name so he can return to the service and “retire with his name unblemished.” They said Dumpit also wants to vindicate his honor.
The appellate court granted their plea. The CA’s order allowing Dumpit to post bail was posted by Cebu City Mayor-elect Tomas Osmeña on his Facebook page yesterday evening.
Osmeña told CDN he will take care of Dumpit’s P250,000 bail.
Dumpit is currently detained at the Leyte Regional Prison in Albuyog, Southern Leyte.
ELATED
“We are so glad that Dumpit is allowed to post bail. It’s not easy to stay behind bars for six years now. We’re hoping that he will really be cleared of the charges in due time,” Salva told CDN over the phone.
He said even the National Police Commission which heard the administrative charges filed against Dumpit in relation to Go’s death exonerated the policeman.
Salva said Dumpit is expected to report back to work as a policeman as soon as he posts bail.
“He’s presumed innocent until proven guilty (by the highest court in the country). And so he will continue to serve the community as a police officer,” he said.
PAROLE
Dumpit was linked to a series of extra-judicial killings during the administration of Osmeña.
“These are all speculations. We wouldn’t know the truth until we have evidence to prove it. Basin unya inig gawas aning Dumpit, mas buotan pa ni sa iyang mga abogado (Maybe, when he steps out of jail, Dumpit is more amiable than his lawyers),” Salva said.
His other lawyer Benjamin Militar said Dumpit has the option to avail of parole since he has already served the minimum jail term imposed by the court and that the policeman has been doing well behind bars.
“In fact, he was given by a certificate of good conduct and behavior (by Jail Inspector Jessie Baquilod) when he was committed at the Cebu City Jail.
Dumpit displayed commendable behavior inside the jail,” Militar said.
But Dumpit reportedly refused to avail of parole because he could no longer go back to his work as a policeman.
“He wants to uphold his integrity and that of the police force,” Militar said.
Militar admitted that Dumpit had killed at least seven armed suspected criminals in 20 actual encounters during his stint as a policeman.
“He has received numerous commendations for what he has done. He is a well-decorated policeman,” Militar said.
JUSTICE
While Dumpit’s camp rejoices, the mother of one of the suspected criminals whom Dumpit killed was emotional upon learning that Dumpit would be out of jail.
Janeth Badana said she knew Dumpit would eventually be released from detention, but only after serving the full jail term of nine years and four months.
She wasn’t expecting Dumpit to post bail.
“Kon pobre ta, dili man gyud ta makakuha og hustisya. Wala may hustisya dinhi sa Pilipinas ba. Pobre ko ug busa dili nako makab-ot ang matuod nga hustisya alang sa akong anak. Ako na lang ihangad sa Ginoo ang tanan,” Badana told CDN.
(If you’re poor, you will never secure justice in this country. I am poor and so I will never get justice for my son. I just entrust everything to the Lord).
Although it’s hard, Badana said she is trying to move on without his son Ronron.
“Dili malikayan nga motulo gyud ang akong luha kon maghisgot ta ni Ronron. Apan dili man pud hangtud sa hangtud na lang nako huna-hunaon ang nahitabo ug magtagad ni Dumpit (I couldn’t control the tears when we speak about Ronron. But I should not allow myself to think about his death and Dumpit forever),” she said.
Asked if she has already forgiven Dumpit, Badana said, “Kon ikaw ginikanan, makasabot ka sa akong gibati. Ayaw na lang ko pangutan-a mahitungod ana. Gihangad na nako sa Ginoo ang tanan (If you’re a parent, you will understand what I feel. Please don’t ask me about that. I have given up everything to God).”
“Si Ronron dili na intawn makatubag sa mga pasangil nga ilang gipahamtang. Dili lalim ang akong giagian. Lisud kon ang nahitabo sa akong anak, mahitabo pud sa uban. Ang mga tawo nga nagbuhat ani mao nalay manubag sa Ginoo,”said the 47-year-old mother.
(Ronron could no longer answer the accusations against him. What I went through wasn’t easy. It’s hard to imagine that what happen to my son will also happen to others. Those who kill people shall answer before God).”
In convicting Dumpit in 2014, Judge Veloso considered a witness account that Dumpit had warned the victim not to run before the policeman fired a shot.
While Dumpit didn’t kill the victim on purpose, the judge said the policeman is still not free of criminal liability.
Dumpit’s claim of self-defense and a shootout was rejected as a defense that was not supported with evidence.
Dumpit has been detained since Feb. 1, 2010. The time he spent in jail shall be credited to the current penalty.