SPO1 Adonis Dumpit was allegedly a new player in the illegal drug trade and was not on the list of narco-cops, according to a police unit.
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) 7-Bohol established Dumpit's network after an anti-narcotic operative filed a complaint against him early this month for trying downgrade a drug suspect's case. His alleged illegal activities were also reported to 8888, the government's 24-hour public service hotline.
For its part, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency 7 did not divulge yesterday if it has an intelligence report on Dumpit.
Investigators from the Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 and NBI 7 are still investigating Dumpit's alleged drug links.
Atty. Rennan Augustus Oliva, NBI 7-Bohol Office chief, said they received information that Dumpit's supplier is from Bohol, but he did not elaborate as it might hamper their future operations.
"We will get his underlings and source," he said in a phone interview.
During his visit to Bohol yesterday, President Rodrigo Duterte reiterated his warning to policemen to stay away from the illegal drug trade.
"Mabuti dito na lang siya tinapos. Kung narcopolitics yan, tapos rin siya doon (Davao). Eh, sinabi ko na, p***** i** nyo, leche, huwag kayong pumasok diyan. Lahat kayo na pulis, yan kagaya niyan, pag pumasok kayo, huwag kayong magtaka kung mamatay kayong mga p***** i** ninyo. Sinabi ko na sa inyo umalis kayo diyan," he told reporters in Bohol.
A reporter asked Duterte about the killing of Dumpit, a former close-in aide of Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña.
Duterte asked whether the police officer was involved in narcopolitics. He was told that the officer was and that he was from Davao.
In Bohol, Oliva said Dumpit's areas of distribution were Tagbilaran City and neighboring towns.
Dumpit reportedly told his live-in partner he was on his way to duty last Wednesday morning. He later engaged operatives from PRO 7-Regional Intelligence Division and NBI 7-Bohol in a shootout that led to his death in Barangay San Isidro, Tagbilaran City.
Oliva, though, said that Dumpit was on his way to deliver illegal drugs and that the latter was on day-off since Tuesday.
Dumpit may have established his drug contacts while he was still in jail, Oliva said.
Dumpit was first an inmate of Cebu City Jail in 2011 for killing Ronron Go in 2004. He was later transferred to a penal colony after his conviction in 2014. In 2016, he was released on bail and returned to police service.
A source from another law enforcement unit said that the former live-in partner of Dumpit's current partner is a drug lord.
NBI learned of Dumpit's involvement in drug trade after an operative of Tagbilaran City Police Station lodged a complaint against the police officer last June 18. Oliva said they received records from PRO 7 and Criminal Intelligence and Detection Group about Dumpit's involvement in drug trade and he was surprised.
The head NBI agent said he received a call from Dumpit and the latter asked him to downgrade the drug case against the younger brother of his live-in partner.
"He told me that the suspect was his asset," Oliva said, adding that he refused Dumpit's request.
Last May 25, the Tagbilaran City anti-narcotics team caught Sergio Balante Tahadlangit III, 35, in a drug bust. The suspect, a neighbor of Dumpit in Barangay San Isidro, reportedly shouted the officer's name.
"Sir Dumpit, tabang kay gidakop ko (Help, they're arresting me)!" the police operative's affidavit read.
The following day, the arresting officer received a call from an unregistered number.
"Chief, Si Dumpit ni, mohangyo unta ko nimo nga ipa Sec. 11 lang ang i-file ni Tahadlangit aron makapiyansa. Pareho ra bitaw ta pulis. Ikaw gud naa ra nimo kung di pod ka," said Dumpit, as quoted by the operative who holds a rank of Police Officer 3.
The officer referred Dumpit to his superior, telling Dumpit he could not decide on the matter and that he was just doing his job.
A police source said Dumpit came looking for the operative. Dumpit was driving a motorcycle with a passenger, who was reportedly a brother of another drug personality. They asked for the operative, but he was not around.
Last June 13, the operative's vehicle was strafed, but no one was hit. The operative believed Dumpit was behind the incident.
Meanwhile, Oliva denied they committed overkill, saying they had to defend themselves as Dumpit engaged them first.
Dr. Rene Cam, NBI 7 medico-legal officer, said he had conducted an autopsy on Dumpit, but he refused to divulge the details as he has to submit his official report to NBI 7 Director Patricio Bernales.
The gun and motorcycle used by Dumpit were owned by other persons, who are included in the investigation. (With SunStar Philippines)