Sereno: Ungab does not deserve his death

CEBU, Philippines — Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno believes that everyone should be alarmed at the senseless killing of lawyer and Ronda Vice Mayor Jonnah John Ungab.

"I think everyone should be alarmed. No citizen, regardless of her living, should suffer a fate as he has especially it is symbolic considering he just came from a court hearing and it happened at a short distance from the Cebu City Hall of Justice," she said.

Sereno, who is in Cebu today as part of the "Road to Judicial Reforms," extended her condolences to Ungab's family.

"Where killings are done gravenly, you must ask every citizen where the society is heading towards. We have to ask ourselves the hard questions. But until a justiciable case comes into law, I cannot talk much into this particular killing," Sereno added.

Sereno said they are planning to build up security in the Quimonda Center where the Cebu City courts sit.

She said they had an intense discussion with Regional Trial Court Cebu City Executive Judge Gilbert Moises yesterday to augment number of security personnel to ensure safety.

Amid the recent spate of killings among lawyers, Sereno said some have been afraid to take some cases.

She cited there have been 20 judges who were assassinated since 1999.

Jonnah John’s wife, Pearl, said the police should also focus on politics as a motive, rather than just giving more weight on the drug-related angle.

She said that it would only be a “convenient excuse” to rule out other motives, and immediately conclude that the incident was due to handling the case of self-confessed top drug lord Kerwin Espinosa.

“Why would someone wanted us to know, that it is regarding his client that he received those threats, as if someone wants us to look in that direction, only because it is very convenient, as if someone wants us to believe that it has something to do with the case, because that can be easily accepted by the public?,” Pearl said.

She confirmed though that the morning prior to the promulgation of the cases for illegal possession of firearms and violation of the election gun ban against Espinosa, his husband received a threatening text message, from an unknown number.

“That morning earlier we received a threat.  ‘If he chooses his life or his client?’,” Pearl said.

Despite the threat the lawyer received, Jonnah John represented his client in court.

Meanwhile, the police are asking for patience and confidence from the family of the slain lawyer because they are only halfway through their probe.

Senior Inspector Jonathan Taneo, spokesperson for Task Force Ungab, said that the police are working under the directives of Regional Director Robert Quenery to conduct a “full and impartial” investigation.

He said that they are open to opinions, regarding the pace of the investigation, in relation to the recent statement of Chief Inspector Jovie Espenido, former chief of Albuera police in Leyte.

However, Taneo said his statements do not weigh much value on the development of the case.

“Wala maka-affect iya pamahayag, matawag nga opinyon na lang. Amo paminawon kay syempre tan-awon if ever maka affect, (but) not necessarily diha mi mo-concentrate,” he said.

The family confirmed as well that the cases Espenido filed have been dismissed by the Department of Justice.

Taneo added that investigation will be based on supporting documents, through the evidence gathered.

“So far cooperative man sila, cooperation lang og confidence nga mahuman rani namo, ma-solve rani  namo ang case eventually,” Taneo said.

So far, the police are looking at personal grudge, work, and politics as possible motives.

Jonnah John was shot outside Qimonda IT Center at the North Reclamation Area that houses the Cebu City Palace of Justice before noon last Monday.

NBI-7 Regional Director Patricio Bernales Jr. said their agency is conducting a separate probe on Jonnah John’s case and considered it as a "command case" due to its gravity.

"Practically, the whole NBI Cebu is working on this," he said.

Bernales added that they will still coordinate with the PNP to share information and evidence even if they are conducting a separate investigation. At present, no specific name has surfaced yet only CCTV footage of men whose faces were half-covered.

The doctor who conducted the lawyer’s autopsy had determined that one of the bullets that hit the lawyer was fatal and can cause his instantaneous death.

The other one had a 50-50 chance of killing the lawyer.

The lawyer suffered two gunshot wounds to his upper left jaw and left temple.

Bernales added that the doctor cannot determine which bullet hit first but if it were only the second bullet that hit him, the lawyer's survival rate could have been higher.

The victim’s family members said they do not have plans to dangle any reward money to help identify the two assailants and trust that authorities can do it, even without shelling out money.

Jonald Graciano said that his brother will be transported to Ronda on Saturday, for a one-night wake, in the town’s church, so as not to stain the memories his brother left with his children if the wake would be held in their residence.

He will be laid to rest on Sunday.

Graciano added that they are not thinking about requesting security from the police, but appeals more for witnesses to come forward and help with the case.

“As of now wala man gani mi security.  Ang amo lang gyud gi-appeal is witnesses to come out and cooperate with the investigation,”

The Police Regional Office-7 is willing to provide security assistance to the family of the slain lawyer, if the family will request for it.

In yesterday’s press interview, Quenery said that if the Ungab family is eager to request for protection, they will give them enough security personnel for them.

“Well, if they ask, we will (provide them) security protection.  But as of now, wala pa naman akong natatanggap na request,” he said. —Lorraine Mitzi A. Ambrad, Christell Fatima M. Tudtud, May B. Miasco (FREEMAN)