CEBU, Philippines – The murder case against controversial policeman Adonis Dumpit was raffled off to the sala of Regional Trial Court Branch 23 Judge Generosa Labra yesterday.
The case was among those included in the regular raffling of cases despite reports that Dumpit would have it reinvestigated. The RTC criminal division and the office of the RTC executive judge said they did not receive any formal motion to this effect.
Dumpit’s case in non-bailable and the policeman is reportedly bent on holding in abeyance the issuance of a warrant of arrest against him.
RTC Executive Judge Meinrado Paredes said under the rules, people charged in court have five days to file a motion for reinvestigation from the date he first learned of the filing of the case against him.
The Office of the Ombudsman for the Military indicted Dumpit to the crime of murder in relation to the death of 17-year-old robbery suspect Ronron Go more than four years ago. Go was killed evening of December 14, 2004 in sitio Sampaguita, barangay Tejero.
Finding probable cause for the crime of murder, Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez approved Dumpit’s indictment and filed the information of the case last week.
Dumpit and two other policemen, Police Officers 3 Ruel Hortellano and Porferio Gabuya, responded to a robbery alarm when they reportedly chanced upon Go’s group.
Go, Dumpit’s neighbor in barangay Tejero, was identified by one of the robbery victims as one of the robbers.
According to the witnesses, Go tried to run away but Dumpit shot him from behind. Based on the autopsy report of the National Bureau of Investigation, Go was hit twice at the back, which caused his death.
Dumpit claimed self-defense, saying it was Go who first aimed a shot at him. He narrated that a certain Elizabeth Corro sought his help after her daughter, Kimberly, was robbed while riding a PUJ. Go was reportedly identified as one of the suspects.
Dumpit said they went to Go’s house to verify his whereabouts but the latter was reportedly not there. However, on their way home, a certain Jimmy Mendiola signaled to him that a group of armed men were on the way to the house of a certain Pepe Regis.
Dumpit said he immediately went to the opposite direction to meet the armed men and when he saw Go’s group, a certain Junjun Gador allegedly fired at him, which prompted him to seek cover.
As he positioned himself to return fire, Go reportedly appeared and allegedly aimed his gun at him, which prompted him pull the trigger first to defend himself.
Dumpit said he was even the one who brought Go to the hospital after hitting him.
The Ombudsman, however, found against Dumpit. Graft Investigation and Prosecution Officer Anafe Manlapaz said the testimonies of witnesses were consistent to the autopsy report.
Dumpit’s companions were exonerated from charges for lack of evidence. — Fred P. Languido/JMO (THE FREEMAN)