CEBU CITY, Philippines - Cebu City's controversial sharpshooter Senior Police Officer 1 Adonis Dumpit Jr. may be Mayor Tomas Osmeña's ideal bodyguard, but he doesn't exactly fit Judge Geraldine Econg's criteria.“Preference man gud nako babaye kay makuyog nako (I prefer to have a woman because she can accompany me) everywhere even on private necessities,” said Econg, presiding judge of Regional Trial Court Branch 10. Dumpit, Osmeña's bodyguard, was offered by the mayor to be Econg's bodyguard.
He said the threats received by the judge were “very serious.”
While accepting the offer of Mayor Osmeña, Econg said she also wanted a female bodyguard. “People are concerned over my safety, so I accepted the offer of the city government. Two of them are from the Cebu City Police Office. One is a woman,” said Econg, referring to Police Officer 2 Delia Corcuera. She also confirmed that aside from having two bodyguards, she also has her own firearms for protection. But Senior Superintendent Patrocinio Comendador Jr., Cebu City police director, clarified that Dumpit was not assigned to guard Econg yet.
He said Mayor Osmeña's announcement was only a suggestion.
If there’s an order from the mayor, Comendador said he can issue an order assigning Dumpit to Econg.
Comendador said the judge has picked a female police escort given to her by the office of Police Security and Protection Office of the Police Regional Office in Central Visayas. Econg, meanwhile, disclosed that she received another threat last Monday. She said a man called her up in her office, asking about the whereabouts of Dumpit.
Econg said that the man called three times but never identified himself. “Abi nako si Dumpit iyang tuyo, nangita siyang Dumpit, wa na kuno sa City Hall. Next question kada lakaw ba kuno nako kuyog ba daw si Dumpit, akong huna-huna basin si Dumpit ilang gipangita. Next question, duna bay laing back-up si Dumpit inig magkuyog nako. Details na man... nasuko na gyud ko, it’s too much na man (I thought he wanted to speak to Dumpit as he was looking for Dumpit. The caller said Dumpit was no longer at City Hall. He than asked if Dumpit goes with me wherever I go and whether he has a backup. He was snooping for details so I got angry. It's too much,” said Econg.
On the second call, Econg let one of her personnel answer the call but the caller did not speak up. On the third call, Econg decided to answer it but the caller also did not speak up.
“The same background, saba, murag nay tv or radio,” said Econg. Arturo Butoctoy of Econg’s office said that prior to the calls received by Econg, he took a call from a man looking for the judge. The caller, however, never identified himself. Another staff member, Mary Margaret Leyva, also had the same experience. Econg wants to get to the bottom of all the threats she is having. “Why won’t people let me do my work? When in fact, I’m just trying to do my work. They keep on harassing me. That’s enough,” said Econg. The judge is handling the parricide case against the cult leader Ruben Ecleo Jr. who stands accused for killing his wife.
She said that she is willing to face anyone in a forum and find out why she has to get through with all the trouble. “I will stand against them,” she said.
Econg said she has no idea who is threatening her life. She said she believes that the threats have something to do with her job.
She said that whoever is responsible for this would want her to inhibit from the case. /Correspondents Chito O. Aragon and Carine M. Asutilla with Reporter Hayde D. Quiñanola | 
