Dumpit: hero or villain?

What would prevail now is the version of the operatives that Dumpit was into the illegal drugs trade

The killing of the decorated and controversial policeman, SPO1 Adonis Dumpit, by his law enforcement colleagues raises more questions than answers. Dumpit was killed by combined elements of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) 7 and the Regional Intelligence Division (RID) 7 in what they claimed was a shootout in Tagbilaran City, Bohol Wednesday morning.

NBI officials claimed it was a legitimate operation and that they were about to block the motorcycle-riding Dumpit to arrest him for “transporting” illegal drugs but the policeman opened fire prompting them to retaliate. Dumpit, a known sharpshooter, died on the spot due to multiple gunshot wounds. Operatives found packs of shabu from his pocket.

But Ma. Ella Amores, Dumpit’s live in partner, said it was an ambush, but she was not at the scene. She claimed that when Dumpit left their residence, she saw a white SUV tail the policeman and a blue van blocking his way. Later, she heard bursts of gunfire.

Was Dumpit into illegal drugs trade? Was it a shootout or a well-planned assassination? If it was an assassination, who ordered it? Was it a part of the internal cleansing of the Philippine National Police like what happened to other policemen linked to the illegal drugs trade?

I think Dumpit was not foolish to shoot it out with lawmen who outnumbered him. Why were the RID operatives were sent to Bohol when they are based in the regional headquarters in Cebu City?

Dumpit was a friend even before he became popular for arresting and killing criminal elements. He was one of those who busted the Mindanao robbery groups that were responsible for the series of bank and pawnshop robberies in the late ‘90s. He was part of the Hunter Team that went to Mindanao to arrest wanted persons that committed crimes here.

I could say he was also a media creation because he had friends in the media who covered his “exploits” and played up his good side, calling him “super cop.” At the height of vigilantism in the early 2000, Dumpit was tagged as a vigilante. But this was not confirmed and the vigilantes were never identified.

When he was jailed at the Cebu City Jail for homicide charges, I used to send him some goodies during Christamas. He would even ask for cellphone loads. When he was sent to the Leyte sub-penitentiary in Abuyog, he continued to communicate with me and update me about his situation. He would ask me about his case at the Court of Appeals. He informed me of the fire incident inside the jail facility and the killing of a drug lord there.

When he was released from jail, he texted me that the “former political has-been” paid for his bond and got him as close-in security. I even asked him, what if his boss would order him to kill me? He said, “Dili nako na mahimo Super Bob uy, kay amigo

man ta.” He texted me when he was assigned to Bohol. “Maayo diri kay layo ta sa controversy,” he said.

What would prevail now is the version of the operatives that Dumpit was into the illegal drugs trade. As the saying goes, “Dead men tell no tales.” I even doubt if the authorities would seriously investigate Dumpit’s killing. Was he a hero or a villain?

I want the Cebuanos to show respect to him because without him, criminality was out of control. We owe it to him. He was really my best policeman.

CEBU CITY MAYOR TOMAS OSMENA, on spo1 adonis dumpit, who was killed in what law enforcers said was a shootout in Bohol