Dumpit still faces murder

CEBU, Philippines - The murder case against SPO3 Adonis Dumpit stays as the Regional Trial Court refused to admit the amended information downgrading the case to homicide for lack of factual and legal basis.

RTC Branch 6 Judge Ester Veloso, however, granted Dumpit’s continued detention at the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-7 headquarters for security reasons.

In a four-page omnibus order, Veloso yesterday denied the motion filed by the Ombudsman for the military and other law enforcement offices seeking to admit the amended information which downgraded the murder case to homicide after conducting reinvestigation.

According to Veloso, the reinvestigation conducted by the Ombudsman for the military “was done without leave of court”, which means it was not sanctioned by the court.

In fact, on January 7 Veloso issued an order reconsidering the earlier order granting the reinvestigation and ruled that the reinvestigation was not proper in this case.

The court, however, allowed Dumpit his continued detention at the CIDG headquarters despite the opposition of the ombudsman and private prosecutors.

Veloso gave weight to the comment of Cebu City Jail warden Efren Nemenio who said he cannot guarantee Dumpit’s safety in the jail. He could not also recommend any facility manned by the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology within the nearby cities saying “inmates have their own gang affiliations in almost all jails nationwide and these affiliations are so strong that they share common understanding, belief and predicament involving issues of their interest”.

Anti-graft prosecutors opposed Dumpit’s continued detention at the CIDG. They attached a letter from Nemenio which stated no policemen has been killed while under detention.

The prosecution argued that the risk of Dumpit’s escape from the CIDG detention is very high. Private prosecutor Rizalina Zozobrado likewise contended that it is the BJMP that is mandated to take custody of detainees awaiting trial.

The court earlier granted Dumpit’s temporary custody at the CIDG detention cell following his surrender in Mindanao. Dumpit is accused of killing suspected robber Ronron Go in December 2004. — Fred P. Languido/BRP   (FREEMAN NEWS)