CEBU, Philippines – The chief of the Cebu City Police Office Investigation and Detective Management Branch testified that a suspected robber did engage SPO1 Adonis Dumpit in a shootout during a hot pursuit operation before Dumpit shot him dead.
The testimony of Insp. George Ylanan runs counter to that of NBI agent Arnel Pura who claimed that there was no shootout between Dumpit and suspected robber Ron-ron Go before the latter was shot dead on December 14, 2004.
Dumpit is now accused of murder for killing Go.
During the cross-examination conducted by prosecution lawyer Alfred Yann Oguis, Ylanan said a robbery allegedly perpetrated by an acquaintance of Go was reported in the North Reclamation Area that day. He was one of the policemen responded and chased the perpetrators to Sitio Villagonzalo, Barangay Tejero.
Ylanan said there he heard five or six gunshots fired about 15 to 20 meters from where he was and went to check. He later came upon the sight of Go being rushed to the hospital.
He also said he saw Go's mother, Janeth Badana, at the scene. It was Badana who would later file murder charges against Dumpit for killing her son.
Ylanan said he did not see Pura at the scene.
Ylanan also said that Go was known as a notorious robber in Cebu City although he does not know him personally.
When asked if he was just supplying testimony because he and Dumpit are friends he replied he does not consider himself a friend of Dumpit but just a colleague.
Meanwhile, Dumpit told reporters that he is doing fine in his detention cell at the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group office. He added his Christmas wish is that the court will grant his motion to bail.
Dumpit hopes the case will be dismissed as it was a job-related incident. (FREEMAN)