Slain lawyer laid to rest
An estimated 8,000 brought slain lawyer Jonnah John Ungab to his resting place in Ronda town where he was vice mayor.
Ungab was ambushed last Monday outside the Qimonda IT Center in Cebu City after attending the promulgation of the case of his controversial client, self-confessed drug lord Kerwin Espinosa.
President Rodrigo Duterte has tagged Espinosa as a bigtime drug lord in Eastern Visayas.
In Ronda yesterday, Ungab’s supporters wore shirts printed with the words, “Justice for Atty. Ungab. We always love you and miss you forever.”
The flag at the town’s hall was also placed on half-mast.
REWARD MONEY
With Ungab’s killers still at large, his brother, Jonald Gracio, asked the Ronda municipal government to give P500,000 as reward to whoever can identify the assailants.
Ungab’s oldest nephew, John Majeb, said the family can afford to give the reward money but considering Ungab’s service to Ronda, it is but right that the town should also extend help.
“The family can afford, but if the Rondahanon people really love Atty. John as they say they do then there is no reason why the municipality can't allocate such amount.
I mean. Atty. John dedicated about most of his life as a public official. I believe it’s not a big loss to allocate such funds if they say they do love (him) as they say they do, as the Mayor says he does," John Majeb said.
Ronda Mayor Mariano Blanco, Ungab’s uncle, said he will discuss the matter with the town Council.
“Mangutana pa ta… lahi kaayo ako mayor, ako pag-umangkon… government funds na, wa ta kahibaw… pero ang ato, og ang family mag-initiate, daghan gud mi managigsuon, naa ra na nila,"
Blanco said.
INVESTIGATION
Footage from a closed circuit television camera (CCTV) showed two men carried out the shooting, but they have not been identified.
A task force composed of several police units has been formed to work on the case. The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has also stepped in.
"We are still gathering evidences with significance to the case, and coordinating with provincial and city police offices to identify the persons of interest," Senior Insp. Jonathan Taneo said, as he urged witnesses to come forward.
Authorities are eyeing three motives: Personal, professional, and politics.
Ungab’s family is optimistic the PNP and NBI can solve the case.
BURIAL
Yesterday, Ungab’s eldest son, John Daniel, 20, told sympathizers that his father, despite being a highly paid lawyer, was generous to his clients. Once, he reportedly accepted fish from a client who could not afford his fee.
"Nag-handle siya og case pero isda ra ang gibayad… milyon siya og kita, pero isda ra iya gidawat… he gave everyone fair justice," he said.
He said Ungab believed in equity, simplicity, and finding beauty in a struggle.
As she promised to take care of their six children, Ungab’s wife, Pearl, sang a verse from the song, “Beautiful Goodbye”.
Pearl was with Ungab that fateful day and survived the ambush.