Warden loses job over claim he cannot secure Dumpit

CEBU, Philippines - Testifying in court that the Cebu City Jail is incapable of securing SPO1 Adonis Dumpit has cost jail warden Supt. Felixberto Jagorin his position.

Yesterday, Jagorin was told by the Police Coordinating and Advisory Council to take a graceful exit as Mayor Michael Rama is set to recommend his relief.

Romeo Cordova, consultant for peace and order and the head of the city’s PCAC said that the mayor has lost his trust and confidence in Jagorin after the latter told Judge Ester Veloso of Regional Trial Court Branch 6 that he is incapable of securing Dumpit at the city jail.

Rama said he found the testimony disappointing after all the changes and improvements in the jail and longs for “a competent and more deserving official” to manage the facility.

In the order of Veloso dated March 14, it was said that “the Jail Warden of Cebu City has categorically testified that he cannot, for one reason or another, keep the accused safe in Cebu City Jail. He (Jagorin) claimed that intelligence reports from inside the jail revealed that there were threats on the life of the accused from people the accused, or his group, has arrested in the past.”

Veloso said that Jagorin’s statements were based on hearsay as he was not able to provide details, including the source, of the “intelligence reports.”

“Moreover, his unequivocal admission that he is incapable of securing the life of the accused leaves the unanswered question if he is indeed competent enough to take the job of warden of the Cebu City Jail or if he is merely shirking from his responsibilities,” the order read.

“It is his duty and responsibility as jail warden to safeguard all detained prisoners and accused entrusted to his custody in Cebu City, without fear or favor,” the order further read.

Cordova said that Jagorin did not also coordinate with PCAC when he testified in court.

“Protocol-wise, he should have informed the body. He asked for an audience with the mayor and they were able to talk last week. But I told him that the mayor has already made up his mind,” Cordova said.

Jagorin was told to have a graceful exit so no negative incident will be reflected in his records, but he reportedly said that he will not step down but will await the recommendation of the mayor for his replacement.

Cordova said that they might send Rama’s request for Jagorin’s replacement within the week.

Meanwhile, the lawyer of Dumpit has asked Veloso to inhibit from handling the murder case against him.

Dumpit, through lawyer Pedro Leslie Salva, said they have lost confidence in the capacity of Veloso to handle the case and render a fair decision in the case of Dumpit.

“The sum total of a series of her rulings in the course of this case has proven to be extremely prejudicial and continues to be prejudicial to movant’s constitutional and statutory rights to a fair trial,” the motion read.

Salva stated three circumstances why they wanted Veloso to inhibit. First was because Veloso failed to look into the safety of Dumpit.

“Veloso denied the recommendation of the Cebu City Jail Warden as well as that of the Talisay City jail Warden,” motion read.

Second, Salva said Veloso showed bias when she denied Dumpit’s motion to bail.

“There were two instances where movant moved to be allowed bail – first after the prosecution had rested its case and second after he had presented several witnesses. Both motions were denied by the judge,” Salva said.

The third was that the right to preliminary investigation was never really granted to Dumpit.

They argued that before Veloso took over the case, the previous judge who handled the case, Bienvinido Saniel, granted the reinvestigation on the premise that the movant never had the fullest opportunity to air his side in a preliminary investigation.

Dumpit is in jail for murder.

The mother of his alleged victim Ronron Go, Janeth Badana, refused to comment saying her lawyer has not yet received a copy of the said motion. – Jessica Ann R. Pareja and Mylen P. Manto/BRP (THE FREEMAN)