CEBU, Philippines — The Task Force Ungab has now the cartographic sketch of one of the persons of interest in the ambush of lawyer and Ronda Vice Mayor Jonnah John Ungab, according to Police Superintendent Ryan Devaras, chief of the Investigation Detection and Management Branch (IDMB).
Devaras, however, said that they cannot release the facial sketch yet because it may hamper their operations.
The cartographic sketch was made through the help of the witnesses in the area.
"Naa na tay carto nga nahimo basing pud sa mga witnesses sa area. Wala pa nato gipagawas karon in a sense nga ongoing pa ang operation. Basin makamalay. Usa ra ka carto. Part siya sa team. It could be the gunman or it could be the back-up, spotter," said Devaras.
He added that based on the cartographic sketch of the person of interest, the possibility of the man being a member of a gun-for-hire group was strengthened.
"Amo sad gi-connect since ang among investigation ni-point out ngadto nga hitman, so this people we can consider them as gun-for-hire. Murag nag-match pareha sila'g physical appearance, this could be this guy," Devaras said.
He also added that based on their investigation, they are looking into four to five suspects as part of the team who ambushed Ungab. The personalities may include the spotters, gunman and other personalities involved in the crime.
Ungab was shot dead by two unidentified assailants while on board his car along S. Osmeña Boulevard, Cebu City last February 19.
Ungab’s wife, Pearl, who was with the lawyer during the attack, was unhurt.
The lawyer just came from the promulgation of the case of his client, self-confessed drug lord Kerwin Espinosa, inside the Palace of Justice at the Qimonda IT Center at the North Reclamation Area.
Devaras said that Task Force Ungab is in constant communication with Pearl.
He said that the family has already given them some information from the cellphone of the slain lawyer that could help their investigation but it is still selected.
Devaras also said that they still did not rule out the possibility that the motive behind the ambush could be political, together with personal and work-related, despite the fact that the Commission of Human Rights has dismissed the political angle.
"Wala pa gi-rule-out ang political until now nga possible motive in a sense ang circumstances nga it can be a threat sa mayoral race. Maybe there are other interested party ang nisugo kay since Ungab kay taga didto og naa gyuy kanang possibility nga modaog bisag naay other parties nga gusto mosulod," Devaras said. (FREEMAN)