Dumpit a ‘daddy’ to street children

CEBU, Philippines — In his over two years of stay in Bohol, the late SPO1 Adonis Dumpit had opened his home to random people, some of whom street children while others were recovering drug dependents who surrendered under Oplan Tokhang.

Dumpit’s son, Norman Vincent, revealed this to reporters at his father’s wake yesterday.

“Daghan sila og adopted. Mga bata. Ang uban dili na sa balay mo-stay kay dili na maigo. Adto magkan-anan. Daghan kaayo sila didto. Magsud-an og sardinas,” he said.

Even if his father did not have enough salary to provide for his family, Norman, in his occasional visits to Tagbilaran City, would always grow amazed at how Dumpit still managed to help others.

Norman said the late police officer “adopted” at least 13 people.

“Naay mga former ni-sign sa Tokhang before ug gi-adopt niya (Adonis). Iyang gipang-adopt kay para ma-reform,” he said.

Yesterday afternoon, Dumpit’s live-in partner Ella Amores arrived at the Presidential Chapel of Cosmopolitan Funeral Homes in Cebu City, tagging along with her some of the people Dumpit had sheltered while in Bohol.

One of them, Kleath Derence Marquez, 22, said he called Dumpit his “Daddy.”

“Ang uban gisagop, ang uban gipaeskwela. Mga 13 mi kabuok pero ang nine nalang nabilin kay nakatrabaho na ang uban,” he said.  Marquez could not hold back his tears as he expressed disbelief on how the life of a good policeman and a generous person could end in tragedy.

“Nitabang siya sa mga tawo kay gusto niyang hatagan og maayong ugma. Sakit kaayo sa among buot kay kaning nahitabo niya, dili namo madawat kay maayo kaayo siya nga tawo,” he said in between sobs.

Now that their “Daddy” is gone, Marquez is anxious about their future.

‘Planted’

Meanwhile, knowing that his father had a good heart, Norman said he could not believe allegations tagging him as a drug pusher or drug protector.

“Drugs? Siya maoy mo-deliver unya protector pa gyod? Imposible kaayo kay kon drug protector ka, manugo nalang ka. Dili nalang gyod ikaw ang mangunay og deliver kay protector man kaha ka,” he said.

He believed that the 15 packs of suspected shabu allegedly recovered from his father during Wednesday’s joint operation between the police and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) were “planted.”  Dumpit was killed reportedly in a shootout with authorities that morning in Barangay San Isidro, Tagbilaran City following reports he was on his way to deliver drugs. (FREEMAN)