DUMPIT COMING HOME

LOCK AND LOAD. Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña shows how to handle and fire a shotgun during a shooting stint with other officials at the Cebu City Police Office in this 2008 file photo. Looking on is SPO1 Adonis Dumpit. (CDN FILE PHOTO)

Officer to thank Tommy Osmeña, report for duty 

When asked what he intends to do once he is released from jail, SPO1 Adonis Dumpit said he plans to go to church, meet with incoming Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña and visit a tailoring shop to get a new set of police uniforms.

The controversial police officer, who was sentenced to six to nine years in prison for shooting dead a 17-year-old robbery suspect, is expected to be released from the Leyte Regional Penitentiary in Abuyog town, Leyte province sometime today.

Dumpit told Cebu Daily News in a phone interview yesterday that he was only waiting for his lawyer Benjamin Militar to process his release papers.

Militar arrived in Leyte yesterday together with an Osmeña representative to facilitate payment of Dumpit’s P250,000 bail at the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 10 in Abuyog town.

After cash was paid in court, Dumpit said he was made to sign documents that contained the conditions of his bail.

REQUIREMENT

Dumpit said while he has not yet seen his release papers, Militar told him that they will return to Cebu City today after he undergoes a medical examination which is a requirement prior to the release of detainees.

Dumpit was convicted of homicide by Judge Ester Veloso of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) in Cebu City in August 2014 for shooting dead 17-year-old robbery suspect Ronron Allosada Go in Barangay Tejero, Cebu City on Dec. 14, 2004.

But Dumpit had been detained since Feb. 1, 2010 prior to his conviction and was transferred to the LRP last year.

He was ordered to pay P50,000 to the victim’s family.

The 20th Division of the Court of Appeals allowed him last week to post bail of P250,000 pending resolution of the appeal he filed on his homicide case.

INTENTION

Lawyer Pedro Leslie Salva said he was excited over Dumpit’s release.

“I’m very happy. Who would not be glad seeing his client and friend step out of jail after six years?” he told Cebu Daily News by phone.

Salva said Dumpit intends to report to the Police Regional Office 7 in Cebu City as soon as he arrives.

“His intention is to report for duty and perform his job as a police officer in Cebu City. We should be reminded that he is a multi-awarded policeman. He really loves his job,” he said.

Dumpit said his old uniforms, which he last wore in 2010, are already faded and worn out.

RESTRAINED

“Gusto sad ko makigkita ni Mayor aron personal nga magpasalamat sa tabang sa akong pyansa (I also wanted to meet the mayor to personally thank him for helping me post bail),” he said, referring to Osmeña.

The appellate court’s 20th division, nonetheless, restrained Dumpit from leaving the country without approval by this court until his appeal is approved.

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 Go’s death.

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 to the CA and asked that the policeman be allowed to post bail while his case is on appeal.