Dumpit's death not overkill despite 14 bullet wounds

CEBU, Philippines — At least 14 bullets penetrated the body of SPO1 Adonis Dumpit following a shootout with fellow men in uniform that killed him in Tagbilaran City last week.

This according to the autopsy results released by the National Bureau of Investigation, one of the two agencies that carried out the mission against Dumpit.

Aside from the 14 bullets, six others grazed Dumpit – three on his right arm, two on his right thigh, and one of his left knee.

“Fourteen all in all ang akong gi-count, head and body, pero naa man gyud syay mga gi-consider nako nga entrance wounds although mura na ni sya ricochet ba kay og moigo sya sa skin, mura og igo na lang sya motuyok pero wala molapos sa skin. Naa syay  duha ana sa iyang right thigh, naay usa diri sa iyang left knee nga nisulod sa panit nigawas ra pud diritso, usa ra, unya naa pud sya sa arm nga tulo,” said Dr. Rene Cam, medico legal officer of the NBI.

The autopsy, which lasted at least four hours, was conducted hours after Dumpit was killed in the Bohol operation.

Cam said the three bullets that hit his head caused his instantaneous death. He was also hit in the liver, kidney, and lungs. His rib cage was also broken.

Cam said most of the shots are concentrated on the right side of Dumpit’s body and that the trajectory of the bullets was downward.

He added that the shots were fired from afar. He explained that if a bullet is fired within a 24-inch range, there will be traces of burns, gunpowder, or soot, which are missing in Dumpit’s case.

The size of the bullet holes on Dumpit’s body also suggests that high-powered firearms were used. For instance, one hole was 5.56 mm in diameter.

“Ang fatal gyud kay head, naguba man gyud ang iyang brain tungod sa ka-high-powered siguro sa firearm nga gigamit,” Cam said.

Not overkill

Cam stood firm that the rules of engagement would justify that there is no overkill, contrary to speculations.

“There is no such thing as overkill. There is no such thing as too many shots fired. Why? Because are the rules of engagement. If the person you are confronting, although already being shot, but still is a threat to your life, you will continue to shoot until he is down,” Cam said.

In Dumpit’s case, the police reportedly had to fire more shots at him because Dumpit allegedly attempted to load a magazine into his firearm.

“Pag-fall na niya, and then ni-change magazine siya, he was still considered a threat sa, siguro, nagpusil niya. Ila to judgment that they still have to continue shooting because ni-change magazine pa man siya. If natumba ka and di naka mulihok, you are already down, you are no longer considered as a threat,” Cam said.

He added that the NBI and the police had to protect themselves, considering that Dumpit was recognized for his shooting abilities.

Police said they were intercepting Dumpit who was allegedly transporting illegal drugs.

Dumpit’s family cried overkill and belied his involvement in illegal drugs, stating that Dumpit even waged a war against illegal drugs while in the force.

Transfer

At the Cebu City Hall, Mayor Tomas Osmeña denied reports that he had a hand in Dumpit’s transfer of assignment to Bohol from Cebu City

This is in contrary to a note posted on Facebook account of a certain Zenith Yang Borres who said Osmeña used his influence to have Dumpit reassigned to Bohol because the two had a misunderstanding.

The note stated that Dumpit and Osmeña had a misunderstanding that’s why the mayor used his influence to have Dumpit transferred.

Osmeña denied the report and said he does not have the power to reassign Dumpit.

“No. No. I don’t even know how he ended up in Bohol,” the mayor said.

“I didn’t assign him to Bohol. Why will I assign him to Bohol? I know some people want to get him so he just stayed here. He stays in the house,” the mayor said.

Dumpit was Osmeña’s most trusted aide for several years before the cop was convicted of killing notorious robber Ronron Go, 14.

He served his sentence at the Cebu City Jail and was later moved to the Leyte Regional Penitentiary in 2011 where he allegedly built his network in the illegal drug trade.

Osmeña said the only time he asked Dumpit’s reassignment was when all officials of Barangay Ermita in Cebu City were suspended.

Dumpit will be laid to rest on Wednesday at the Queen City Memorial Garden. (FREEMAN)