Missing former XU teacher found dead

By JOEY NACALABAN and NITZ ARANCON
Correspondents .

THE grisly murder of a former Xavier University philosophy teacher would likely end up as another cold case because none of his relatives, who are under threat, have sought the help of the police.

But Camp Alagar started looking into the mysterious murder. An official, Supt. Surki Sereñas, said police collected data about the gruesome killing in Iligan City where the victim’s body was brought last week.

The victim was identified as Gexie Ray Ungab of Poblacion, Tagoloan town in Misamis Oriental. Before he was employed at the human resource office of the Tagoloan town hall, he taught philosophy and attended law school at Xavier University here.

The 23-year-old Ungab died of multiple stab wounds and a gunshot to the head. He was reportedly mutilated, too.

Ungab had been reported missing in Nov. 17; his body was brought to an Iligan funeral prlor on Friday.

One of his friends said Ungab had sent a text message that he was heading for Lanao to attend a party.

Former Cagayan de Oro mayor Vicente Emano, a Tagoloanon, said Ungab had a girlfriend from a prominent political family in Lanao del Sur who owns a property in the city. Emano served as Tagoloan mayor before he became governor and subsequently, Cagayan de Oro mayor.

Supt. Sereñas said the gruesome murder reached the attention of Camp Alagar and he sent a trusted man to Iligan City last week to gather information.

Sereñas said Ungab was first brought to the Capin Funeral Homes in Iligan city.

The victim’s family then brought the body to their hometown.

The Radio Mindanao Network’s Iligan station reported that Ungab’s body was brought to the Capin Funeral Homes by the police from Marawi City. From Iligan, the body was brought to the Cosmopolitan Funeral Homes here before Ungab’s remains were transferred to Tagoloan.

The problem, according to Sereñas, is that the police only had sketchy information about Ungab’s murder and there is no official record pertaining to the brutal killing.

Sereñas said the victim’s family did not cooperate because they are apparently under threat.

The victim’s family members have reportedly been receiving text messages and even calls from unknown people who threatened them with harm if they went public with Ungab’s murder.

“Wala may blotter, wala poy reklamo ang pamilya sa biktima, kay dili man sila manumbong,” he said.

Sereñas said the Iligan police could not conduct a thorough investigation into Ungab’s murder because of the family’s lack of interest.

“Mahimo man nga ang police ma-oy mo-file ug kaso kon nailhan nato ang mga suspect pero maglisod kita niana kay wala may mo-testifiy sa atong i-file nga reklamo kay dili man mo-cooperate ang pamilya sa biktima,” Sereñas said.

Over Magnum Radio, former mayor Emano confirmed that Ungab’s family has been receiving threats.

“Kining biktima nga namatay looy intawon kaayo hilabi na ang mga ginikanan. Di maayo nga hinadlokon pa gayud ninyo. Ensakto na kana, ila naman segurong nadawat ang maong hitabo di na nato padak-on,” Emano said.

Emano said he first learned about the missing Ungab on Saturday when the victim’s parents came to him for help.

He said he quickly  contacted a friend in Marawi to help locate the victim.

Emano said he was saddened when he was later informed that Ungab’s body was found dumped in a secluded area and that his remains were already in a funeral parlor.

He said the Ungab family has continuously been receiving threats — they were warned not to bring the matter to the public’s attention or else.

On Saturday, one of the members of the Ungab family received a call from a man who threatened to bomb the place where the wake was. Police quickly came to secure the area.