‘WE ASK YOU TO HELP US’
HIS DAUGHTER’S APPEAL. “Please, arrest the bad guys,” says Zee Ungab, 6, in a press conference where her mother Pearl (center) and cousin John Majed Ungab spoke about the ambush last Monday in Cebu City that killed lawyer and Ronda Vice Mayor Jonnah John Ungab.
But Ronda Mayor Mariano Blanco, an uncle of the Ungab brothers, said he would never dream of hurting Jonnah John and wasn’t threatened by the latter’s reported plan to run for mayor in 2019; term limits will prevent Blanco from seeking reelection Senior Insp. Jonathan Taneo of Task Force Ungab says that investigators have obtained a security camera footage that shows the masked gunman; Atty. Ungab’s widow, Pearl, appeals for other witnesses to speak up
The family of Ronda Vice Mayor Jonnah John Ungab urged investigators of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) 7 and Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) to look into politics as one of the reasons behind his murder last Monday.
Ungab’s older brother, Jonald Gracio, told reporters in a press conference yesterday morning that his brother was planning to run for mayor in Ronda in next year’s elections. He could not believe his brother’s death was connected to allegations of him being an associate and not just a lawyer of Eastern Visayas “drug lord” Rolando “Kerwin” Espinosa Jr.
“You were not aware there is a pending suspension order for the mayor of Ronda this March because of a case in the Sandiganbayan,” he said.
But Ronda Mayor Mariano Blanco, the Ungab brothers’ uncle, said in a separate interview that he wouldn’t even have a chance to run for mayor in 2019, because he’s on his third straight term and will be barred by term limits. (See related story)
For her part, Ungab’s wife Pearl said the attack may have been timed for the same day that the decision on one of Espino-
sa’s cases was scheduled to be revealed, to convince the public that Jonnah John was killed for his alleged involvement in drug trafficking.
Gunman was masked
Blanco and five other town employees were charged with 15 counts of violation of Sec. 3 (e) of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. They were accused of “inexcusable negligence when they proceeded with the bidding process despite the non-posting of invitation to bid on Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (Philgeps) website,” read graft investigation and prosecution officer Eileen Mae Lagat-Alde’s 10-page resolution.
Jonald Gracio did not elaborate on how the family obtained information on Blanco’s allegedly impending suspension.
For his part, NBI 7 Director Patricio Bernales said his agents have started their parallel investigation, and that they have exchanged information with Task Force Ungab investigators from CCPO.
Senior Insp. Jonathan Taneo, Task Force Ungab spokesperson, said they have obtained a closed-circuit television camera (CCTV) footage of the gunman, who wore a mask. He hopes investigators can identify the culprit once the video’s clarity is enhanced.
Ungab’s family is considering to shell out reward money for any person who can give information that could lead to the arrest of the culprits.
Jonald Gracio said they also want the investigators to explore the other possible reasons behind the ambush-slay, including Ungab’s job as a lawyer.
When asked about a state- ment of Ozamiz City Police Chief Jovie Espenido, whom a Cebu Daily News report quoted as saying he was happy about Ungab’s death, Jonald Gracio smiled. He said that the police officer failed to prove his brother’s involvement in drug trafficking and Ungab was just defending his client, Espinosa.
Complaints filed by Espenido against his brother were dismissed by the justice department for lack of evidence. Ungab, he said, had received checks as payments for his services to Espinosa and not for any participation in the illegal drug trade.
“Iyaha pod nang opinyon (That’s his opinion),” Jonald Gracio said.
Ungab’s wife Pearl urged persons who saw the culprits to give their testimonies.
“I ask you to help us, as I know that the public also believes they deserve the truth. Let us not only look at one side of the story,” she said.
Pearl, a mother of six, became emotional as she demonstrated to reporters how she tried to revive her husband after he was shot by the gunman outside the Qimonda Building-Cebu City Hall of Justice in Cebu City a few minutes before noon last Monday.
She felt hurt as no one helped her, and the onlookers just took pictures and video.
Ungab’s remains will be brought back to Ronda on Saturday for a vigil. The burial will take place on the following day.
He always traveled without any sort of protection from threats. Deep inside, he was just fulfilling his duties as a servant of the law. PEARL UNGAB Lawyer John Ungab’s wife