Tomas needs to request for Dumpit formally

CEBU, Philippines - Mayor-elect Tomas Osmeña should make a formal request before the police if he wants SPO1 Adonis Dumpit to be part of his security detail, Police Regional Director Patrocinio Comendador said yesterday.

"Wala man na'y problema kun gusto ni Mayor Osmeña si SPO1 Dumpit nga maoy mahimo niya nga bodyguard, pero mohimo lang siya og formal request," Comendador told The Freeman.

Comendador headed the Cebu City Police during Osmeña's previous term as mayor.

Osmeña will assume office on midday on June 30 and is entitled to police security, but a formal request is necessary especially that the election ban on the assignment of police personnel is still in effect, Comendador explained.

Dumpit who is out on bail in a homicide case said he considers Osmeña his brother and is willing to be part of his close-in security.

Even after Dumpit's conviction for shooting a minor to death in 2004, Osmeña has continued supporting him and even provided him lawyers in the case.

His lawyers elevated his court to the Court of Appeals and it was the appellate court that granted his petition for bail.

"Nalipay gyud kaayo ko nga wala motalikod si mayor Tommy nako mao nga dili sab gyud ko mobalibad kun kinahanglanon niya ang akong serbisyo," said the 53-year-old Dumpit.

It was only last week when he was released from the Leyte Regional Prisons on a P250,000 bail. 

Dumpit said he has borrowed a uniform from a policeman friend so he can pay a courtesy visit to Comendador at the Police Regional Office-7 in Camp Sergio Osmeña Sr. today.

Comendador said Dumpit would need to go to the Personnel Section to process his papers so he can be reactivated to active service.

 "Kinahanglan pa nga si Dumpit mo-courtesy call sa R1, sa R2, ug ubang directorial staff usa makaabot sa akong opisina," Comendador said.

R1 and R2 refer to the personnel and intelligence sections, respectively.

Comendador said Dumpit can be issued firearms once he completed the requirements.

Several Cebuanos have welcomed Dumpit's release, albeit temporarily, believing he can help curb criminality in the city.

Dumpit said he plans to take a leave of absence for a few days because he wants to visit his 83-year-old mother in Davao del Norte. — (FREEMAN)