CEBU CITY - As sympathies and condolences poured in for the death of Ronda Vice-Mayor and lawyer Jonnah John Ungab, a controversial police official has expressed his elation over
the incident.

• Cebu town vice-mayor shot dead after court hearing

Chief Inspector Jovie Espenido, former police chief of Albuera, Leyte, stood firm on his conviction that the slain lawyer had been receiving drug payola from self-confessed drug lord Kerwin Espinosa, who is a client of Ungab.

"So, dapat ang kondenahon nga gipatay nga wala gyud maghimo og dili maayo. Dapat dawaton because that is the consequence," Espenido said in a phone interview with ABS-CBN News.

(We should only express condemnation to those killed lawyers who have done good. The [Integrated Bar of the Philippines] should accept the consequence.)

• Cebu lawyers decry slay of Espinosa's attorney

Espenido filed a criminal complaint against Ungab and others at the Regional State Prosecutor's Office in Tacloban City on October 2016 because of the alleged involvement of the town official in the illegal drug trade.

Ungab was also part of the list of PNP and government officials tagged in the drug transaction, based on the affidavit of former Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr.

The younger Espinosa, however, defended Ungab during a Senate probe.

The Integrated Bar of the Philippines-Cebu Chapter immediately released a statement of condemnation and cry for justice following the gruesome death of Attorney Ungab.

• Cebu lawyer asks for guns after slay of Espinosa's lawyer

Espenido, however, said IBP-Cebu should be aware of Atty. Ungab's background and the allegations attached to his name.

Ronda Mayor Mariano Blanco III, who is also the uncle of Ungab, said his nephew's relation with Kerwin was purely "professional". He even asked his nephew about the allegation, but Blanco said Ungab repeatedly denied the claims.