Lawyer: Transfer request stabs Dumpit in the back

CEBU, Philippines - A vehement opposition to the request for transfer of venue was yesterday filed before the Regional Trial Court by the defense in the murder case filed against SPO1 Adonis Dumpit who was accused of killing a suspected robber in 2004.

Lawyer Pedro Leslie Salva, legal counsel of Dumpit, said that what was done in the case is a stab on the back of the accused who is only a low-ranking officer and thus does not have sufficient resources for a trial at a faraway venue.

“If indeed they want a transfer of venue, they should have presented concrete evidence and valid grounds on why this case should be transferred to another venue,” Salva said.

“This action grossly violated the rights of the accused. It falls short of the basic principle of fair play,” he added.

The opposition filed read that the accused has never been considered as a threat to any law-abiding citizen. “Nobody is afraid of SPO1 Adonis Dumpit but the criminals.”

“His superiors in Region 7 even admire his action in voluntarily surrendering even if he could have conveniently stayed on the mountain areas in Davao where his relatives are living,” it also read.

“It would be unfair and unjust for the Secretary of Justice to immediately write a letter to the Honorable Chief Justice even without asking the opinion of our local government officials as well as the PNP hierarchy in Region 7 if only to know the real score. Worse the opinion of the very court wherein the case is lodged was not even sought. Being in far off Manila, it is safe to assume that the Secretary of Justice may not have a clear grasp of the case, yet out of the blue is asking for a transfer of venue,” it further said.

“It now appears that the sinister hands that are actually acting as puppeteer of the persons involved in the instant case are having their way as reliable information has been gathered that no less than people engaged in the illegal drugs trade are supporting the prosecution of the instant case.”

In a manifestation filed before the RTC, state prosecutor Llena Ipong Avila said that the move is intended to “forestall a miscarriage of justice and protection of the witnesses.”

Avila said that on Monday afternoon, they received a copy of the letter request of DOJ Secretary Agnes Devanadera to Supreme Court Chief Justice Reynato Puno for the transfer of the case to Makati City. The letter, however, was not attached to the manifestation filed before the RTC for its being “confidential” in nature. — Jasmin U. Labaco/MEEV