Reinvestigation of murder case vs. Dumpit opposed

CEBU, Philippines – The Office of the Ombudsman for the Military has filed an opposition to the motion of SPO1 Adonis Dumpit to have his murder case reinvestigated and to hold in abeyance the issuance of his warrant of arrest claiming that he was not given the opportunity to be heard during the preliminary investigation into the killing of suspected robber RonRon Go.

Deputy Ombudsman for the military and other law enforcement offices Emilio Gonzales III prayed before the Regional Trial Court to deny Dumpit’s motion for lack of merit.

RTC judge Bienvenido Saniel has deferred his ruling on Dumpit’s motion pending the comment from the anti-graft office.

Gonzales said it was not true that Dumpit was not afforded his right to be heard during the preliminary investigation. In asking for denial of Dumpit’s motion, the anti-graft office said that Dumpit was given the full opportunity to be heard during the preliminary investigation, including giving due consideration to his counter-affidavit which was submitted before the National Bureau of Investigation.

The Ombudsman said that Dumpit misled the court in claiming that he was not accorded all the opportunity to present his side during the preliminary stage. According to Dumpit, he was not asked to submit his counter-affidavit which is in violation of his right to due process of law.

Gonzales said that the anti-graft office did notify and summon Dumpit to submit his counter-affidavit. However, he failed to submit it despite due notice which the Ombudsman took it as a waiver of his right.

In lieu of it the Ombudsman took into consideration Dumpit’s affidavit which he submitted before the NBI denying any participation in the killing of Go.

The Ombudsman for the Military earlier indicted Dumpit after finding probable cause that he intentionally shot and killed Go last Dec. 14, 2004 in barangay Tejero during a follow-up operation of a jeepney robbery at the North Reclamation Area. – Fred P. Languido/BRP (THE FREEMAN)