Dumpit comes to aid of cops in ‘hot seat’

Controversial policeman Adonis Dumpit came forward yesterday to defend his embattled colleague, who was arrested during an entrapment operation by the National Bureau of Investigation last Wednesday.

Dumpit, along with another policeman, who was earlier implicated in the alleged extortion of P2 million from a suspected drug personality, said that there was no entrapment operation.

The NBI filed formal charges of robbery extortion, violation of the Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and R.A. 6713 otherwise known as the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees yesterday before the Office of the Ombudsman Visayas against SPO1 Jaime Otadoy and his alleged cohorts PO3 Rey Albotra and PO1 Raniel Capangpangan.

A case for simple robbery was also filed against Capangpangan and Albotra for divesting the complainant, Reuel Lerio, of his wristwatch and necklace.

Dumpit executed an affidavit together with PO2 Milo Arriola, who was released from NBI custody, in defense of Otadoy.

Arriola was earlier taken into NBI custody for investigation after he tried to intervene during Otadoy’s arrest. NBI regional director Medardo de Lemos said, they found no legal basis to include Arriola in the charges they filed because he was not mentioned in the complainant’s affidavit.

In a joint-affidavit Dumpit and Arriola claimed that the NBI and Regional Intelligence Operatives who arrested Otadoy inside the Vice Control Section office last Wednesday during a supposed entrapment operation were allegedly misled by the complainant.

“We believed that the RID and NBI personnel were misguided by the alleged complainant. The story made by the complainant is fabricated and untruthful,” Dumpit and Arriola said.

According to them, Lerio was just making up stories to destroy the reputation of the police, particularly those who are involved in the raid against his wife Estella four years ago.

Dumpit and Arriola said there was never an entrapment operation. They claimed that they were talking inside the VCS office when it happened.

The NBI and RID personnel were just allegedly looking for Capangpangan when Lerio pointed to Otadoy. An NBI agent immediately got hold of Otadoy and asked for his personal file.

Dumpit and Arriola said they thought that they were just asking some information from him, but to their surprise Otadoy was arrested.

But, no less than Cebu City Police director Patrocinio Comendador admitted that he has been receiving derogatory reports about Otadoy even before his assignment in the city.

Comendador said when he was yet in the RID he already heard the name of Otadoy allegedly committing the same misdeeds.

The city police chief said he will be recommending that Otadoy, Capangpangan and Albotra be assigned outside Cebu City. He also said that former VCS chief Wilbert Parilla, who is now without a unit, will also be recommended for transfer.

Comendador said that Parilla has already talked to him and promised to face the investigation.

According to Comendador, aside from Parilla, Otadoy, Capangpangan and Albotra, the rest of the members of the disbanded unit will be evaluated if they are also to be recommended for assignment outside the city.

 Comendador said there are about 20 policemen formerly assigned at the VCS who are temporarily assigned with the Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Branch.

Angry Mayor

The incident got Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña, who is on an official trip to India, very angry.

He said, he wants the three policemen dismissed from service and jailed for the rest of their lives.

Osmeña said that administrative charges should be pursued.

He said that while the scalawags in the PNP are only few, the police officials must address the matter of weeding them out.

“It only takes a few to damage the reputation of the entire force.”

The mayor reminded the public not to forget that while there are few scalawag policemen, there are still many policemen who are willing to sacrifice their life and limb “to protect us.”

No To Disbandment

Two Cebu City councilors yesterday expressed opposition to the disbandment of the VCS.

Councilors Gerardo Carillo and Sylvan Jakosalem, who are members of committee on Police Fire and Penology, said the disbandment of the VCS is not the solution to this problem.

 "I think this is not the solution, what I would suggest is for the NBI to make a deeper investigation, basin dunay opisyal na involved niini" Carillo said.

Carillo urged NBI investigators to take a look the possible angle of "conspiracy" between the subordinates and their superior.

For his part, Jakosalem said that the VCS has helped a lot in curbing problems in the city such as prostitution and other vices.

Jakosalem said this is not fair to other PNP members assigned at the VCS if the said unit will be disbanded.

Earlier CCPO acting director Patrocinio Commendador ordered the disbandment of the VCS following the involvement of some of its personnel in an alleged bribery scandal. – Fred P. Languido, Rene U. Borromeo and Ramil V. Ayuman/NLQ