Murder case vs La Union lawmaker transferred to DOJ

BAUANG, La Union — The murder case against La Union second district Rep. Tomas Dumpit Sr., together with eight others, including the lawmaker’s son, for the Jan. 12 killing of Bauang election registrar Felimon Asperin Jr., has been transferred to the Department of Justice (DOJ) as requested by Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales.

In a April 10 letter, Gonzales ordered local prosecutors handling the case to suspend the preliminary investigation and immediately transmit all the records to the DOJ.

In making the move, Gonzales cited pressure being employed by influential persons on the local prosecutors.

"Confidential reports have reached (my) office that certain persons in La Union have been allegedly trying to exert undue pressure and influence upon our prosecutors to decide one way or the other on the case," he stated in the letter.

Transferring the preliminary investigation to the DOJ was meant "to ensure impartiality" in the case, he added.

In another letter also dated April 10, Gonzales said he has designated state prosecutor Cielitolindo Luyun as acting provincial prosecutor of La Union.

He said state prosecutor Josefino Subia will assist Luyun in the preliminary investigation, and if evidence warrants, the filing of the information for murder with the appropriate court.

Superintendent Pedro Ubaldo, who represented Task Force Asperin in filing the case, confirmed in an interview with Bombo Radyo that all documents of the murder case have been forwarded to the DOJ.

Ubaldo said that based on the evidence, there is enough reason for the court to issue warrants of arrest for Dumpit and his son Butch, tagged as the alleged masterminds, and the other accused.

The alleged gunman, Ares Alvarez Mato, who was arrested last March 16 in Koronadal, South Cotabato, claimed that the Dumpits ordered Asperin’s killing after the election official turned down their request for a favorable decision in the 2004 elections.

The other accused are Dominador Rentuma, driver of the getaway motorcycle; Tess Dumpit-Michelena, owner of the house where Mato and Rentuma allegedly first stayed before the killing; SPO1 Eduardo Banay, an aide of Dumpit who allegedly provided the motorcycle used by the suspects; Renato Batoon, owner of Mato’s hideout; Armen Mato, driver of the Tamaraw FX that allegedly fetched Rentuma and Mato from Dumpit-Michelena’s residence; and Vice Mayor Clyde Crispino of Caba town.