Wednesday, March 9, 2011
WORRIED about SPO1 Adonis Dumpit’s safety in the Cebu City Jail, a city councilor said the policeman should not be detained there.
Councilor Augustus Pe Jr. said he already apprised the jail warden of the possible danger Dumpit would be facing inside the detention facility, and asked him not to take the situation for granted.
Pe, chairman of the City Council committee on public order and safety, said the situation of Dumpit and the threat to his life should not be taken for granted because criminals whom he sent to jail might get back at him while he’s detained there.
“It’s a security problem having him there. If we can only find another place outside the city jail, then that will be better because we all know that he has sent a lot of criminals to jail, that’s why he’s not safe there. But there’s nothing we can do, it’s a court order, we’ll just have to follow the legal process,” Pe told Sun.Star Cebu.
Irregularities
Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, on the other hand, warned the jail warden against committing irregularities.
“Do what you believe you are allowed by law to do. If you go beyond, and it will be proven to be special treatment, you should only be reminded of the wardens who were kicked out,” said Rama.
But the mayor said Dumpit could not be regarded as an ordinary prisoner.
There is a rule for those prisoners and jail officials know what to do, said Rama. He added that the scenario would be worse if a detainee would become a victim of a crime inside the City Jail.
The family of a minor who was allegedly shot by Dumpit rejoiced at the court order putting Dumpit in jail.
“For the first time in six years, I don’t have to constantly look over my shoulder and see if somebody is following me,” said Janeth Badana in Cebuano.
Murder
Dumpit is facing a murder charge for the death of Badana’s son Ronron Go. The court allowed him to be detained at the detention cell of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).
However, Regional Trial Court Judge Ester Veloso ordered Dumpit imprisoned at the city jail after Badana took photos of Dumpit outside the CIDG 7 detention cell.
Badana said prosecution witnesses are also relieved by Dumpit’s transfer. She added that those who testified against Dumpit in the case have been removed from the witness protection program.
After learning about the court order on Dumpit’s transfer, Pe said he advised the City Jail warden to be alert.
“He (warden) told me he’s aware of the security risks and that he’s implementing security measures to keep him (Dumpit) safe. SPO1 Dumpit was placed in an isolation cell and was assigned his own guard,” the councilor said.
Transfer
But deputy city jail warden Dennis Aliño they are planning to transfer Dumpit to another Bureau of Jail and Management Penology 7 facility, considering the policeman is a “high-risk” prisoner.
Dumpit was placed in the Reception and Diagnostic Center, which was repainted last week, said SJOI Edgardo del Rosario. It has a bathroom with running water.
The facility, del Rosario said, is where they conduct briefings about the jail’s policies to the new prisoners. It was also used as the prisoners’ livelihood center before.
Dumpit was not put right away into his cell when he arrived Monday afternoon. He stayed at the City Jail’s office until evening, del Rosario said.
The policeman has a pending motion for bail.
Bail
Judge Veloso had denied an earlier motion so defense lawyer Pedro Leslie Salva lodged another last December.
Salva, in the motion, stated that Dumpit was merely performing his job when the shooting took place.
Cebu City Police Office deputy chief Pablo Labra II, who took the witness stand last month, supported the argument.
He said it was he who gave the order to pursue the suspects of two robbery incidents on Dec. 14, 2004, the day Go was shot.
On his first night at the City Jail, Dumpit received a cup of rice and fried fish as his ration and slept on a flat sheet of wood.
Asked what he would do, he said: “Hagok gihapon. Kaginhawa pa ko diri (I slept well. I can still breathe here).”
Yesterday morning, the be-medalled police officer turned murder suspect ate a breakfast consisting of egg, beef loaf, dried fish and a cup of rice.
“Kanindot diri kay naay extra rice (It’s nice here; I get extra rice),” he said.
He has a black bag containing blankets and his clothes. He also brought along with him soap, alcohol, coffee in sachets, and two bottles of mineral water.
Dumpit said he will wait for when the court will render its decision on his case.
To fight boredom, Dumpit is requesting for books and other reading materials. He said he wants to read Tagalog love stories.
Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on March 09, 2011.
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