Ungab ambush: Gunman maybe dead

CEBU, Philippines — Police investigators found a possible link of a man who was shot dead in a police operation last month to the ambush-slay of lawyer and Ronda Vice Mayor Jonnah John Ungab.

Senior Inspector Jonathan Taneo, chief of Homicide Section of Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) and spokesperson for Task Force Ungab, said that a red sweatshirt  and a .45 caliber firearm were recovered from the belongings of a personality who died during an operation in Lapu-Lapu City, last February 22.

Taneo said they brought the red sweatshirt to Pearl, Ungab’s wife, and she is 80 percent positive that the shirt matched with the clothes that one of assailants wore.

Taneo, however, refused to disclose the identity of the person who died in the operation so as not to hamper the investigation.

"As of now, di lang sa nato i-divulge under operations pa man, i-establish sa nato connections niya," Taneo said.

But he confirmed that the operatives were serving a warrant of arrest when the suspect shot it out with policemen.

The police defended themselves and fired back resulting in the suspect’s death.

He also confirmed that the person is among those being checked by Lapu-Lapu City Police Office for alleged involvement in gun-for-hire activities.

"Kani nga person na neutralize siya during the operation. However, ato gihapon i-establish. Ato conduct-an og profiling. Nisukol man siya during the operation, mao to na neutralize siya.  Ang naa sa record, wanted person ni siya. Somehow kani nga tawo involved sa illegal activities" Taneo said.

Gun-for-hire

A check with published newspaper reports revealed that on Feb. 22, an alleged gun-for-hire accused of killing a police officer in Bohol was shot dead in a police operation past 1 p.m. in Barangay Basak, Lapu-Lapu City.

He was identified as Dante Betaganzo.

Operatives served the warrant of arrest for robbery against Betaganzo when he allegedly attempted to shoot it out with the police.

Taneo said that they will submit the red sweatshirt and the firearm to the Philippine National Police (PNP) Crime Laboratory for forensic examination to crossmatch with the evidence recovered from the site of the ambush.

Results will be available in two weeks.

Ungab and his wife, Pearl, were waylaid and attacked shortly before noon on February 19, on S.Osmeña Boulevard outside the Quimonda IT Center in the North Reclamation Area which houses the Cebu City Palace of Justice.

This happened moments after he represented his high-profile client, self-confessed druglord Kerwin Espinosa, in the promulgation of his two cases.

Police have identified two persons of interest, the gunman and a spotter.

Taneo said that due to their efforts to coordinate with other police offices, they were alerted of the items recovered which may have links to the identity of the two persons of interest behind the slay.

Reenactment

In a related development, yesterday, police investigators led by SPO1 Winston Ybañez staged a reenactment of the Ungab ambush with a witness who reportedly saw the shooting.

However, during the reenactment, Ybañez said, there were inconsistencies in the claims of the new witness.

Ybañez asked the public not to confuse the investigation and come forward only if they have the intention to help.

"Ayaw ninyo binuangi ang imbestigasyon kay kita nagtarong ta nga masulbad ang kaso," Ybañez said.

Almost a month after the ambush, investigators still consider three possible motives — politics, professional and personal.

Previously, the police monitored another person of interest who has a “significant role” to the development of the case so he can shed light in the investigation.

Police attempted to invite him for questioning on March 5 but he was no longer in the area.

Ungab’s family has given documents, which included transcripts of the death threats that the lawyer received prior to the ambush.

The cellphone remains in the custody of the family and is not subjected to a forensic examination, a process which can decode previous data, pictures and text messages embedded to a hardware, which could help hasten the investigation. (FREEMAN)