Police Files
DUMPIT MURDER CASE
THE camp of SPO1 Adonis Dumpit has changed its tune.
Defense lawyer Benjamin Militar apologized for accusing Regional Trial Court Judge Ester Veloso of Branch 6 of being biased in handling the murder case against the policeman.
“We believe she (Veloso) can decide this case fairly,” Militar told reporters after a hearing on Dumpit’s case yesterday.
The Court of Appeals (CA) earlier denied the pleading filed by Dumpit’s counsel for the inhibition of Judge Veloso.
Militar said they won’t contest the court ruling and would entrust Dumpit’s fate in Judge Veloso’s hands.
Article continues after this advertisementDumpit is facing murder charges for shooting dead robbery suspect Ronron Go on Dec. 14, 2004.
Article continues after this advertisementDefense lawyers earlier alleged that the judge was biased when she denied their motions for preliminary investigation, bail and transfer of the accused to another jail facility.
The defense yesterday presented as its sixth witness Kimberly Corro, the woman whom Go purportedly robbed.
In her testimony, Corro said she was on board a jeepney when she was held up by Go and another companion.
She said Go pointed a gun at her and demanded for her valuables.
Corro said Go was able to take her bracelet and necklace.
On cross-examination, Corro said Go was wearing short pants during the robbery incident.
Anti-graft lawyer Alfred Yann Oguis pointed to a different statement in Corro’s declaration when she testified before the National Police Commission (Napolcom) in Dumpit’s administrative case.
Based on the transcript of the Napolcom proceedings, Corro testified that Go was wearing long pants when he robbed her.
When Oguis confronted her about her description, the woman said her testimony before the Napolcom was wrong.
The next hearing is set on March 6./REPORTER ADOR VINCENT S. MAYOL
FARMER KILLED IN TUBURAN
A 34-YEAR-OLD farmer was shot dead by an unidentified assailant in barangay Mag-atubang, Tuburan town, northern Cebu.
The motive in the killing of Gregorio Diniga Jr. is still being investigated, said police.
The victim suffered a gunshot wound in the shoulder.
An empty shell of a 12-gauge shotgun was recovered in the crime scene.
The victim’s wife told police that past 7 p.m. last Monday, she and her husband heard their pigs squeal prompting the farmer to take a flashlight, and go out to check.
The wife said she heard bursts of gunfire several minutes later. Then she heard her husband shout for help.
She found her bloodied husband slumped outside their house.
Barangay tanods who arrived brought Diniga to the Tuburan District Hospital but he did not make it alive.
Police said the area was dark and that houses were far from each other./CORRESPONDENT RHEA RUTH V. ROSELL
