Rama: Dumpit not solution to crime

CEBU, Philippines - Bailing out Senior Police Officer 1 Adonis Dumpit is not the solution to minimize crime in Cebu City, and neither is vigilantism, according to outgoing Mayor Michael Rama.

"Ask the poor people, the victims and the one who filed the case of Dumpit. They have been fighting, I have seen it and I've felt it. It's just sad that it should be shown on as if it was a news matter, it's just pathetic and would always leave bad days having to be proud that a man would be known, very known. I do not have to add up being a part of an era where brains are being scattered and now being put in the headline. Wow, what a city we have and what an incoming mayor if ever he believes they have won, bringing pride about it. That's why I said you better ask the victims," he said.

He added that killing a murderer will just produce another murderer and Cebu City will not abide by it as it is a civil society run by the rule of law.

Rama added that majority of the people are Roman Catholics and adopting a double-standard in solving crimes by vigilantism is not following the Ten Commandments.

"How can that be the solution, you will be spreading killers and then the men with the city will now be proliferated with killers that should not be the picture, had I wanted to create trouble?" Rama said.

Meanwhile, Dumpit is still in jail and has not been bailed out.

An official of the regional penal colony in Abuyog, Leyte, who asked not to be named, confirmed that Dumpit has not yet posted bail as earlier reported.

In a phone interview the official, who is in the administrative division and is one of the signatories when it comes to the release of inmates, said Dumpit has not been released from custody.

Following the reports that Dumpit will soon be out of jail after he was allowed to post bail by the Court of Appeals pending the review of his homicide case, a regional police official said Dumpit will still be an asset to the police force.

However, Chief Superintendent Patrocinio Comendador clarified that this is assuming there are no hindrances to his reinstatement in the police force.

"This is hypothetical, until such time that we can receive the proper order from the court I can react. Assuming that the administrative case is dismissed and what is only pending is the criminal case…probably pwede na siya makabalik," Comendador said.

Comendador, who said he has watched Dumpit since his the recruitment up to his assignment in the Cebu City Police Office, said Dumpit is a dedicated man especially in the fight against crime.

"Si Dumpit actually is the person that we relied on in the fight against criminality, 2010 nibalhin ni siya og region he was with PRO-7. Ang tanang police nga madugang nato dako og tabang, labi na 'tong police nga dili magpanuko nga makigbatok sa kriminal," he added.

Should Dumpit want to return to the police force the regional office will process his reinstatement and see to it that there are no hindrances, otherwise he cannot be admitted back just yet.

Comendador also said Dumpit has to show documents and the proper court order before his application will be acted upon by the Regional Personnel & Human Resource Development Division of the Police Regional Office-7.

Dumpit was charged with murder for allegedly shooting to death robbery suspect Ronron Go. The charges were later was downgraded to homicide and he was convicted by the Regional Trial Court.

After his conviction, Dumpit filed an appeal which is now being reviewed by the 20th Division of the Court of Appeals.

"We need people on the ground to fight criminality," Comendador added.  (FREEMAN)