Killers of Jonnah John demand P20,000: Ungab kin get death threat

CEBU, Philippines —  Even after his death, the perpetrators of lawyer and Ronda Vice Mayor Jonnah John Ungab continue to haunt his family.

Ungab’s nephew, John Majed, told The FREEMAN that in the morning of February 24, a day before the slain lawyer was laid to rest, their family received a text message demanding money from them.

John Majed said the sender threatened to kill all members of their family if they refused.

“Kon kinsa man nagunit sa phone, mangayo og P20,000. If dili makahatag, mahurot daw tibuok pamilya,” John Majed said.

The message was sent in Cebuano to Ungab’s phone number and from the same number used to send him a series of death threats when he was still alive.

John Majed said they did not reply to the message.

John Majed said they just learned about the text message only yesterday when Ungab’s sister-in-law had figured out the security pattern. Since the day he was killed and until yesterday, Ungab’s phone was kept in their house.

John Majed admitted they were alarmed by the message especially with the safety of Ungab’s children, saying they may consider requesting for a police security.

He said they had already informed the police about the message and will also inform the National Bureau of Investigation today.

The transcript of the February 24 message as well as the death threats received by Ungab on February 3, 4, and 6 will be provided to the police today to help in the investigation.

John Majed said they already turned over Ungab’s phone to the National Bureau of Investigation on the day he was killed but instructed the NBI to limit the extraction of details only to the transcripts of the death threats. The cell phone was later returned to the family.

So far, the family is satisfied with the investigation of the police and NBI, and John Majed said the authorities are giving them regular updates on the case.

Cellular phone

Senior Inspector Jonathan Taneo, spokesperson of Task Force Ungab, said Ungab’s mobile phone would be a great help in their investigation.

"Importante siya kay at some point ma-trace nato ang activities niya before nahitabo ang insidenti...Makatabang na og support sa timeline sa biktima ang cell phone supposed to be ang mga constant niya nga contact  niya days or months before nahitabo ang pagpamusil," Taneo said.

Earlier, Ungab’s family refused to hand his cell phone to the police, saying it contains sensitive information related to his work as a lawyer.

Taneo said that having the cellphone would, at least, help them in the elimination process.

"Makatabang na og suporta og kinsa iyang mga kaestorya, kinsa iyang scheduled nga duolon mga in-ana nga circumstances other than the fact sa og unsay unod sa mga messages or sa mga persons nga iyang mga gipang-contact," he continued.

Ungab was riding his car together with his wife when shot by two unidentified men along S. Osmeña, Cebu City on February 19.

The lawyer had just attended the promulgation of his client, self-confessed drug lord Kerwin Espinosa, at the Quimonda IT Center, which houses the Cebu City Palace of Justice, when the incident happened.

Taneo said they already made efforts to the family to acquire the cellphone of Ungab.

"Ni-request mi pero dili lang frontal kay katong time nga niduol mi is nag-grieve pa ang family dili lang sad ta ka impose gyod. Pero nagpakita nami og gusto nga if puwede nga makakuha unta mi og cellphone kay para makakuha nata og examination (forensic)," said Taneo.

John Majed said their family has been coordinating with the police in the investigation.

"The phone is very vital because it contains he received death threats. We are very cooperative in the investigation. Right now, naghuwat pa mi sa preliminary findings. We are working hand in hand with them," Majed's statement sent to The FREEMAN.

Taneo, on the other hand, said they are looking into reports from an informant that a certain personality who is into gun-for-hire business may have been involved in Ungab’s killing.

"So far, aduna nay linkages sa informant with regard sa usa ka personality nga atong gitan-aw nga usa sa iyang activities gun-for-hire activities. At least hinay-hinay na ta nga adunay kapadulngan with regards ani mga personality nga possible hitman," Taneo said. — /LPM (FREEMAN)