Capitol willing to assist VM’s wife, complainant

THE Provincial Women’s Council (PWC) is willing to provide legal assistance to both  Pearl Ungab, wife of Ronda Vice Mayor Jonah John Ungab and his former law student who filed sexual harassment charges against him.

Cebu Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale, PWC co-chairperson, was asked by reporters whether the body would help in the disputes.

None of the women have approached the PWC though.

Magpale said that while the  PWC  offers free legal assistance only to indigent women who have been victims of  violence, it would  not turn its back on others who seek help.

“They (Mrs. Ungab’s party) understand for whom our legal assistance is meant  but it doesn’t mean that we will turn away if she comes to us for consultation. We do have lawyers,” she told reporters.

Magpale said she heard informal information that Mrs. Ungab had plans to seek help from the province but no formal request has been made.

The vice governor said the PWC is not taking steps to get involved but  gathering information, just in case. She said the council’s technical working group will evaluate any request for aid.

Mrs. Ungab earlier said she had confidence in her husband, a lawyer, to defend her.

In a separate pending case, a former law student of Vice Mayor Ungab, alleged that she has a one-year-old son with the official whom she accused of withholding her grades and forcing her to have sex with him in 2013. The case is now due for resolutionby the  Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office.

Since the case involves  an official under the provincial government, Magpale said the PWC may intervene.

Last Feb. 27, Mrs. Ungab attacked  lawyer Jiecel Tiu with a baseball bat, bashing her car and hitting her in the face and arms.   The wife suspected the lawyer of having an affair with the vice mayor, a charge Tiu denied. Tiu filed a complaint for frustrated murder but it was downgraded to slight physical injuries when the case reached the court.