Dumpit vows to maintain order in Ermita

SENIOR Police Officer 1 Adonis Dumpit, tagged as "the most-feared policeman" by Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña, said he will help maintain order in Barangay Ermita after he was appointed as the village caretaker.

"Dili man sila angay mahadlok kay di man ta kriminal. Igo ra man ta magmintinar sa kahapsay ug kalinaw (The residents need not fear me because I'm not a criminal. I was just tasked to main peace and order)," Dumpit said Wednesday, February 8.

Dumpit was transferred to Carbon Police Station last February 3. Ermita is among the villages under its jurisdiction.

The controversial cop was chosen by Osmeña to sit as caretaker of the village following the preventive suspension of Ermita barangay captain Felicisimo Rupinta and seven councilors for their alleged failure to help the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Central Visayas in a raid last year.

Residents of the village though signed a petition on February 6, asking the Office of the President to hasten both the appointment of a caretaker and the investigation of their suspended officials. They padlocked the barangay hall to stop Dumpit from assuming office.

“We won't allow a non-resident to lead us, especially Dumpit, who we all know is too hotheaded,” said Victoria Capillanes, 67, in Cebuano.

But Dumpit said he said he is non-partisan.

He said he will arrest a person carrying illegal drugs under the plain view doctrine, which allows a policeman to seize, without a warrant, evidence and contraband that are found in plain view during a lawful observation. (KAL/SunStar Cebu/SunStar Philippines)