Tom to raise funds for Dumpit

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Mayor Tomas R. Osmeña will organize a fund raising activity for his former police escort SPO1 Adonis Dumpit to assist the embattled policeman, who is facing a legal battle over the death of robbery suspect Ro-ron Go five years ago. 

“I talked to the police officers this morning and I told them that starting Monday, I will help organize a fund raising for Adonis Dumpit,” Osmeña said yesterday.

The fund raising activity will only be among policemen in the city and Osmeña said that his purpose mainly is to determine if Dumpit’s colleagues are behind him.

“The purpose of this exercise is I want to find out, if the police are behind him.

“So it’s not so much of the amount, I just want to know whether the police department supports Adonis or not,” the mayor said.

Osmeña said that he wants to know the sentiments of the police who are possibly affected by how things turned out for Dumpit.

Dumpit is now facing murder charges for the death of Go and is currently detained at the stockade of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-7.

Las month, he went into hiding but surrendered after almost three weeks to clear the name of his superiors, who have been dragged in the issue for failing to arrest him after the warrant was issued for his arrest.

The Regional Trial Court has granted Dumpit’s request to be under temporary custody of CIDG instead of the Cebu City Jail for safety reasons.

 “One of the possible concerns here is the demoralization of the officers. I think there’s a possibility that these policemen are actually thinking, ‘that could be me’,” Osmeña said.

He said that the demoralization might affect the police in their performance of duty.

Whether to support Dumpit or not will depend on the sentiments of his colleagues, “So here, if he gets a lot of support from the Police department, then I personally, will support the cause,” Osmeña said.

Osmeña said that those who want to contribute may just come to his office were he will assign somebody to accept the contributions.

“It’s not so much about the money. Any amount will do. I am just giving them the chance for their sentiments to be heard,” he said.

The fund raiser will run from Monday to Friday and those who will express his support for Dumpit will be asked to log their names and put their signatures.

Osmeña said that they will be issued personal receipts.

Dumpit, who is known to be a sharpshooter, has been instrumental in the drive of the Cebu City Police Office against criminality.

Since Dumpit is facing murder charges, he cannot post bail, but his lawyer, Pedro Leslie Salva, hopes that this will be downgraded to homicide.—/NLQ   (FREEMAN NEWS)