Second “spotter” spotted?

Police are looking into a second “spotter” in the ambush of lawyer and vice mayor Jonnah John Ungab.

Councilor David Tumulak, deputy mayor for police matters, said the suspected spotter was captured by the cellphone video Ungab’s wife was taking inside the courtroom at Qimonda IT Center where Ungab was attending the promulgation of his client’s case shortly before he was killed on February 19.

The case involved selfconfessed drug lord Kerwin Espinosa.

The police are now verifying the video.

“Naa’y ikaduhang spotter nga nakita sa cellphone video sa asawa ni Atty. Ungab. Naay persons of interest nga nakita didto sud sa sala, nakuha sa cellphone sa video sa asawa ni Atty. Ungab. Ang usa kay sa ubos ra man to,” Tumulak said.

A so-called spotter is a person who tracks a target’s whereabouts on the field and relays the information to an executioner.

Previous accounts had it that Ungab exited Qimonda IT Center at 11 a.m. Moments later, while traversing S. Osmeña Street in his car with his wife, Pearl, two unidentified assailants on board a motorcycle shot him.

Pearl survived the ambush. Police, so far, have two persons of interest; the gunman and a spotter captured by a closedcircuit television (CCTV) camera signaling the gunman.

Senior Insp. Jonathan Taneo, spokesperson for Task Force Ungab, said the team continues to study the CCTV videos from buildings around the Qimonda IT Center.

The task force also released hotlines that the public can call for any information relating to the case: (032) 266-5494 and 09434221841.

As of latest, three motives are still eyed, personal, professional, politics.

REWARD MONEY

Taneo admitted the reward money eyed by Ungab's family would encourage those with knowledge about the case to come forward.

“Kining sa reward, ok ra ni siya ma-term nato nga motivation. Motivation part na sa katawhan nga makatabang sa atoa so ok sad na nga lihok,” Taneo said.

National Bureau of Investigation (NBI-7) Director Patricio Bernales agrees. He said reward money can “boost” the investigation, especially that no one has come forward, so far.

Ungab's older brother, Jonald Gracio, has asked the local government of Ronda to set aside P500,000 as reward money.

Ronda Mayor Mariano Blanco said he has to discuss the matter with the town council.

The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) - Cebu Province said the town can raise the funds for the reward.

Provincial DILG Supervisor Jerome Gonzales said there have been multiple cases that the town council passed a legislation to offer a bounty for the capture of criminals.

"Naa na may mga nahitabo nga ingon ana. Dili tungod kay vice mayor siya but para makadakop og criminals,” Gonzales said.

He clarified, though, that he is speaking only on behalf of DILG and does not know if the Commission on Audit (COA) also allows the same.

NEXT IN LINE

Meanwhile, Gonzales said Ronda's first councilor Rocky Gabatan will assume as vice mayor.

Before he can assume the post and function, however, Gabatan will have to take his oath before Blanco.

Gonzales clarified that this cannot be considered as Gabatan's first term as vice mayor since his assumption is not purely voluntary but rather by operation of law due to a permanent vacancy in the chain of command.

He said it will now be up to Gabatan's political party, Liberal Party, to choose his replacement in the town Council.

Ungab was buried in Ronda last Sunday with an estimated 8,000 bringing him to his resting place.