Task Force Ungab seeks public help

Police investigators are now seeking the help of the public to identify the two persons of interest in the murder of Ronda Vice Mayor and lawyer Jonah John Ungab.

Superintendent Ryan Devaras, head of Task Force Ungab, admitted they are having difficulty identifying them, despite the closed-circuit television footages from Qimonda IT Center, because the videos are not clear.

Devaras said they already have the video of the gunman and his alleged spotter who was seen tailing Ungab inside the Qimonda Building, which houses the Cebu City Hall of Justice. Devaras showed to the media yesterday the pictures of the gunman and the spotter as captured from the surveillance video.

According to Devaras, the spotter could have been easily identified if the Qimonda Building had the proper security measure. He explained that the spotter was seen entering the building but the building security did not log his name.

Devaras said the building security only asked for identification of people entering the building but did not log their names.

“Ang procedure mobilin sila'g ID ug tagaan sila'g control number. Eventually when we conducted investigation sa logbook wala didto ang name, which is makaingon ta, dapat gyud i-improve ang security didto sa pag-entry sa premises,” Devaras said.

He asked the public who may have recognized the person in the picture shown to the media to immediately report to them through these numbers 09434221841 or (032) 266-294.

Devaras admitted that until now they could not establish the identity of their persons of interest. Despite the problem, he said the members of the task force are doing everything to solve the crime.

Ungab was shot dead shortly before noon on Monday along S. Osmeña Boulevard. He was driving his car with his wife after attending a court hearing when two unidentified attackers shot him.

The assailants fled onboard a motorcycle towards Mandaue City. Ungab succumbed to several gunshot wounds to the head.

Hours before his ambush, Ungab represented self-confessed drug lord Kerwin Espinosa during the promulgation of judgment of his cases for illegal possession of firearm and violation of the Comelec gun ban. Espinosa was acquitted of the illegal possession of firearm but was convicted of the gun ban violation.

Before he left the court building, a spotter was seen on CCTV giving signals to the gunman. Police investigators are still pursuing three possible motives in the killing—personal, drugs, and politics.

Devaras said they could not yet focus on one motive until they shall have identified the suspects.