Ramos “Encounter” more proof submitted vs Ronda VM’s wife

CEBU, Philippines- Lawyer Jiecel Tiu, who earlier filed a complaint for frustrated murder against the wife of Ronda Vice Mayor Jonah John Ungab, has filed additional evidence yesterday before the Office of the Cebu City Prosecutor.

State prosecutor Liceria Rabillas received the supplemental affidavit, medical certificate, affidavit of arrest, and pictures of the Toyota Vios owned by Tiu that was allegedly smashed by Pearl Ungab.

Tiu told the media that there were many people who witnessed the encounter between her and Pearl on February 26, but only a few executed an affidavit to support her complaint because they were afraid of Ungab’s family and political influence.

One of the witnesses said while he was outside the office of the City Traffic Operations Management in Barangay Ramos, he saw a red car hit by another vehicle. Minutes later, he said he saw Pearl smash the driver’s side window of that vehicle and attack Tiu using a baseball bat.

Tiu said if not for a CITOM officer, she could have suffered more.

“A CITOM officer came to the rescue and restrained Ungab from further whacking me. Were it not for the said CITOM officer who took the baseball bat away from her, Pearl Ungab would have inflicted more fatal (sic) wounds on me and she would not have been done until I would be gone,” the affidavit read. 

Tiu said she sustained injuries in her head, below her left ear and left shoulder due to the baseball bat.

Pearl, who was placed under hospital arrest at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center because of spotting reportedly, said she went after Tiu after the latter pepper sprayed her face and attempted to run over her and her two-year-old daughter with her vehicle a few minutes before the incident.

In a report, she said she was in the area along Jakosalem Street to meet a friend when she saw Tiu. Pearl said she wanted to talk to Tiu, who was rumored to be having an affair with her husband but the latter allegedly declined and insulted her. She was about to confront Tiu but the latter sprayed her. Tiu also allegedly moved her Toyota Vios backward hitting her and her daughter.

Because of the incident, Pearl said she followed Tiu’s vehicle and found it in Barangay Cogon-Ramos. She approached Tiu but the latter allegedly sprayed her. She admitted smashing the window at the driver’s side but denied hitting her with the bat.

Pearl said she went to police station to report the incident but she ended up jailed. Pearl has five children with the vice mayor and is seven weeks pregnant with their sixth.

Tiu earlier denied having an affair with the vice mayor claiming they were just friends. She said she used to work at the law firm of the vice mayor but left last year because she was allegedly threatened by Pearl. Tiu also asked the vice mayor to help clarify the issue about their alleged affair.

Rabillas said considering she has to appear in court in the afternoon yesterday, she will resolve the complaint today after Pearl opted not to file counter-affidavit to negate the allegations filed against her before her office, whether probable cause exist.

Meanwhile, Governor Hilario Davide III said they cannot take action against an official unless there is a complaint filed with them and the incident is related to their job as a public servant.

“Unless there is a complaint filed before the Provincial Board, that’s the time they can act on it,” Davide said.

As of yesterday, no complaint has been filed against the vice mayor.

When a reporter asked if the vice mayor would face a penalty if his wife’s allegations of his affair are found to be true, Davide said he would not, unless the complaint was related to his job. —With Liv G. Campo/BRP (FREEMAN)