Dumpit peacefully nabs neighbor for owning gun

Controversial policeman Adonis Dumpit arrested a 37-year-old neighbor Tuesday night for illegal possession of firearms but the suspect came out unharmed dousing claims that Dumpit acts aggressively against criminals.

Dumpit said there was no need to hurt Ramonito Escalicas Durano , who yielded peacefully when arrested. Durano is now detained at the Bagong Buhay Rehabilitation Center and charged for illegal possession of a .45-caliber pistol.

Dumpit, a sharpshooter himself, told The Freeman, "Nagrespetar ta sa tawhanong katungod kay natay hukmanan nga adto itaral ang mga badlungon (I respect human rights because we have courts to try bad elements)," adding that he has been a "pro-life" advocate.

Dumpit narrated that, at about 4 p.m. last Tuesday, his neighbors in barangay Tejero went to his house and told him that somebody in the place was seen cocking a handgun in public.

When he went out to check, the man mentioned was already gone. But later at 10 p.m., Dumpit was informed that the man returned and was cocking his gun again while having drinks with friends.

Dumpit said he went to introduce himself as a policeman to the man, whose name was later known as Durano. Shortly after, Dumpit arrested Durano who had actually no time to react because the former was already at his back.

Durano said he did not intend to resist arrest because he was only trying to sell the gun to anybody who might be interested. He said he bought the gun from a friend for P4,500 and the reason why he was cocking it in public was to draw interest from a possible buyer.

But Dumpit said it was already the second time that Durano was arrested, the first of which was in 2002 when he allegedly shot a jeepney driver in T. Padilla.

Durano was never known to be into petty crimes but, from time to time, neighbors complained of harassment and trouble-making against him whenever he got drunk. - Ryan P. Borinaga