La Union Poll Exec’s Killing: Lawmaker, 8 others not yet off the hook

SAN FERNANDO, La Union — La Union Rep. Tomas Dumpit Sr. and eight others who were implicated in the Jan. 12 killing of the election registrar of Bauang town are not yet off the hook although the acting provincial prosecutor has dismissed the murder complaint against them.

Lawyer Leonard de Vera, legal counsel of Ma. Libertine Asperin, widow of slain election registrar Felimon Asperin Jr., told The STAR in a phone interview that he is now preparing a petition for review with the office of Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez.

With the petition, De Vera expressed hope that Gonzalez would reverse the decision of acting La Union prosecutor Ceilitolindo Luyun junking the murder complaint.

"We will be filing a petition for review with the DOJ (Department of Justice) until Wednesday next week. This (dismissal) is very strange because he (Luyun) did not even bother to admit the truth on the extra-judicial confession of the companion of the gunman," he said.

De Vera was referring to the sworn statement of Dominador Ali Rentuma, driver of the getaway motorcycle used in the killing.

Rentuma claimed that he and confessed gunman Ares Mato killed Asperin allegedly upon the orders of Dumpit and his son Butch, a former military officer.

Mato himself signed an affidavit of confession and was interviewed live by a radio station in South Cotabato, but later recanted his statement.

In a 28-page resolution dated Sept. 14, Luyun dismissed the murder complaint due to lack of probable cause.

Luyun said the evidence submitted was insufficient to pin down Dumpit, his son Butch and daughter Tess Dumpit-Michelena, driver Armen Mato, police escort SPO1 Eduardo Banay, Renato Batoon, and Vice Mayor Clyde Crispino of Caba town.

Luyun also cleared Ares Mato and Rentuma of the charges.

According to Luyun, the charges were merely "bare allegations which were unsupported by any evidence that would warrant the existence of probable cause."

He said Mato’s affidavit of confession was "inadmissible" as evidence, while Rentuma’s sworn statement was "unworthy of credence."

Thelma Dumpit-Murillo, daughter of the La Union congressman, told Bombo Radyo here that they are prepared for whatever would be the result of the petition for review.

"Tayo ay nakahanda naman kung mag-file sila ng petition for review. Katulad pa rin ng pag—hahanda namin noong una kaming sinampahan ng complaint for murder (We are ready if they would file a petition for review, just as we were prepared when they filed the complaint for murder)," said Murillo, who has been serving as the family’s spokeswoman.

Murillo said they were elated by the dismissal of the murder complaint, adding that it had been bothering her family for several months.

She claimed that the complaint was the handiwork of people with political ambitions and who were afraid of the Dumpits’ political plans.

"Siguro blessing in disguise din itong pagpa-file ng complaint dahil dito ipinapakita lamang na kami ay inosente (Perhaps, this complaint was a blessing in disguise because this merely showed that we are innocent)," she added. — Jun Elias