Cop was Mayor Osmeña’s former bodyguard: Dumpit killed in drug bust

CEBU, Philippines — Controversial policeman, SPO1 Adonis Dumpit, was killed during what authorities claim was a legitimate anti-drug operation in Tagbilaran City in Bohol yesterday morning.

According to the Police Regional Office - 7, a joint team of the National Bureau of Investigation and PRO-7’s Special Operations Group intercepted Dumpit at 8:20 a.m. as the latter was driving his motorcycle and allegedly transporting illegal drugs in Purok Uno, San Isidro District.

The team reportedly tried to flag Dumpit down but Dumpit allegedly pulled his .45 caliber pistol out and fired shots, forcing the team to fire back, said Senior Supt. Remos Medina, chief of the Regional Intelligence Division.

The exchange of fire ended with Dumpit suffering from several shots that killed him on the spot.

The incident happened just a few meters away from Dumpit’s residence in Purok Uno.

Aside from Dumpit’s firearm, authorities also recovered 15 large packs of shabu from him.

In a press conference yesterday afternoon, the NBI stood by the legitimacy of its operation.

"Na-intercept. Pag-intercept, nihunong, ginaog sa joint team nagpaila and they are PNP. The subject who was riding a motor, gi-slide niya ang iyang motor, gi-engage ang elements. Wala'y recourse atong joint team but to fire back," said Bohol NBI Provincial Director Renan Oliva.

Oliva said Dumpit would allegedly cut a deal with drug suspects he arrested.

"Kinsa iya madakpan, iya arboron - meaning nga coddler, protector. Mao na iya diri," he said.

The Intelligence Division and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group also reportedly validated that Dumpit was distributing illegal drugs.

"Gi-verify namo through our counterparts diri ang information and it was found out through sa CIDG-7 nga ang subject was a 'narco-cop' who has been operating a drug distribution network here sa Bohol when he was assigned," Oliva said.

He said that Dumpit did not sell the drugs directly but allegedly managed an organized system wherein his downlines sold the drugs. 

"Personally, dili siya mamaligya, but naa na siya'y what you call as downliners nga iya gipangtagakan. He does it when he is off. Karon ug gahapon, off ni siya so that was every time nga sige siya off mao ni amo siya gi-tail… there were occasions nga makig-meet ni siya where he supplies a certain drug lord diri," Oliva said.

He said they have tailed Dumpit since they confirmed the information. In fact, they reportedly spotted him meeting with a supplier but failed to arrest him.

"I was shocked to find out about his involvement and I was also shocked that he fired at our team," Oliva said.

Oliva and Dumpit were assigned in Cebu City at about the same time – Dumpit with the PNP and Oliva as an agent of the NBI.

Planted?

Dumpit’s live-in partner, Maria Ella Amores, and former wife, Josephine, both believe that the packs of shabu recovered from Dumpit were planted.

Amores said Dumpit came from their house and she reportedly saw a Mitsubishi Montero tail him. Moments later, she heard bursts of gunfire and saw someone pointing a gun down at Dumpit who was sprawled to the ground near her friend’s house.

Amores said that the night before, Dumpit shared with her that he was always caught in the middle of people in power.

“Pirmi lage daw siya mapagan anang mga higante," she said.

Josephine, meanwhile, said that while she believes the evidence was planted, she does not have plans of pursuing charges against the operatives.

 "Ang ako ra gyud naa sa huna-huna, gi-planteran siya. I don't have plans to pursue charges anymore. All I want is to lay him to rest peacefully because I know what is true, and I know the case with police officers will not have a good end," she said.

Drug Link

Medina said Dumpit may have met people in the illegal drug trade during his time in jail at the Leyte Regional Penitentiary from 2010 until 2016.

Dumpit surrendered to authorities on February 1, 2010 after he went into hiding after the Regional Trial Court convicted him of homicide for the death of minor Ronron Go, allegedly a notorious robber.

In 2016, he posted a bail of P250,000 pending his appeal before the Court of Appeals.

The bail money was courtesy of Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña to whom Dumpit was bodyguard for quite some time.

Osmeña admitted hearing rumors of Dumpit doing “monkey business” in Bohol but he did not take it seriously because Dumpit was never linked to the trade while he was still in Cebu City.

“But there’s absolutely no record or even tsismis of him doing drugs here in Cebu, except killing them,” the mayor said.

Osmeña said he has several questions about the operation but he also knows that the NBI team headed by Atty. Renan Oliva could not have framed Dumpit up.

He said he has not been in touch with Dumpit for quite some time until Councilor David Tumulak informed him that Dumpit called the latter to ask for financial help.

“Dave said he was asking for money. If he’s a drug lord, why is he asking for money? Have you ever heard of a drug lord asking for money?” the mayor said.

“If he’s a level 2 drug lord, why does he need financial assistance? Doesn’t make sense. Maybe he’s trying to fool Dave Tumulak? I don’t think so. Why will he fool Dave Tumulak? According to other sources, he was a very high ranking drug lord. Why will a drug lord ask financial assistance from Dave tumulak? He would ask me. If he had money, why do you ask me at all?” Osmeña added.

The mayor said he will shoulder the expenses for Dumpit’s funeral. The cop’s remains will be brought to Cebu once papers are in place. — JMO (FREEMAN)