A lady judge will handle the celebrated case of a female lawyer who was chased and hit with a baseball bat by the angry wife of Ronda town Vice Mayor Jonah John Ungab.
Judge Grace Veloso-Fernandez of the Municipal Trial Court in Cities (MTCC) Branch 8 in Cebu City, however, has yet to issue any order as the case was just raffled off to her yesterday afternoon.
Fernandez was appointed to the bench last January by President Aquino. Before that she served as clerk of court of RTC branch 18 in Cebu City.
She will conduct trial on the case for slight physical injuries filed by lawyer Jiecel Tiu against Pearl Ungab unless both parties reach a settlement.
More charges
Tiu’s lawyer Rex Fernandez said they are preparing additional charges against Ungab who is still confined at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center as of yesterday.
“We will file more charges against her for trespassing, oral defamation, libel, and damages,” he said.
Settlement
He also said they are willing to explore an amicable settlement and would drop the charges on two conditions.
“Four people have to issue a public apology,” he said.
He was referring to Vice Mayor Jonah John Ungab of Ronda town, the latter’s wife Pearl, brother Jonald, and mother-in-law Dr. Alma Ungab.
Apart from saying sorry in public, Rex said they are also seeking “restitution for damages incurred.”
On Feb. 26, Tiu’s car was bashed with a baseball bat wielded by Mrs. Ungab who also allegedly struck the lady lawyer after chasing her car in barangay Cogon Ramos. This followed a verbal confrontation in the parking lot of Centro Maximo where Tiu holds office. The angry wife suspected Tiu of having an affair with her hsband, Vice Mayor Ungab, a charge the lawyer denied.
Prosecutor Liceria Lofranco-Rabillas later downgraded the charges of frustrated murder against Mrs. Ungab to slight physical injuries, saying she did not have the intent to kill Tiu.
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