GEXIE RAY UNGAB. “We pray for the eternal repose of Gexie, our friend, a fellow Atenean," says Fr Roberto C Yap SJ during the "Mass for Justice and Peace" dedicated to slain Philosophy teacher Gexie Ray Ungab. Photo grabbed from his Facebook account.
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines — Members of the Xavier Ateneo community came together at the University Church of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Friday morning, December 7, to offer the Holy Eucharist for the eternal rest and speedy dispensation of justice on the brutal killing of Philosophy teacher Gexie Ray Ungab.
XU president Fr Roberto “Bobby” C Yap, who presided the “Mass for Justice and Peace,” expressed outrage and condemnation over the murder of Ungab, which he described as a “despicable and horrendous” crime.
“We pray for the eternal repose of Gexie, our friend, a fellow Atenean,” he said. “We are also expressing our condolences to the family. We share their sorrow, their shock. May the Lord console them in this very painful loss.”
Yap continued: “We join the cry for justice, this is a despicable crime, it is horrendous. We pray to the God of justice that those who perpetrated this terrible crime really be brought to justice, that justice will be served.”
Yap told the Ungab family to remain strong in this time of grief and sorrow, and assured that they can find a home in Xavier Ateneo.
MASS FOR JUSTICE AND PEACE. University president Fr Roberto C Yap SJ presides a mass dedicated to the eternal rest and speedy dispensation of justice on the brutal killing of Philosophy teacher Gexie Ray Ungab. Photo by James Pabonita of The Crusader Publication.
Ungab’s father and other family members, friends, XU colleagues, classmates, and students attended the said mass.
Alexie Jose Ungab, father of Gexie, told local reporters after the mass that their family has maintained their decision not to file charges against Gexie's killers.
“We will ask for justice in heaven because, in heaven, there is justice,” Alexie Ungab said in Binisaya.
Another family member addressed Gexie’s friends and colleagues in attendance: “Sometimes I couldn't ask the question ‘why,’ because it is so ironic that we poised Gexie to be the lawyer in the family, to bring justice to the oppressed. But in his death, we could even hardly give him the justice that he deserves because, in today's society, justice remains elusive.”
He also expressed their family’s gratitude to those who offered prayers and sympathies for Gexie. “Thank you all for your prayers and unta dili na kini mautro (we hope this will not happen again).
The 23-year-old Ungab went missing in November. A week later, his corpse was found in Marawi City and brought to a funeral parlor in nearby Iligan City. Reports showed that he was stabbed at least 18 times, obtained multiple gunshots, and was demasculinized.
Gexie was a graduate of XU’s AB Philosophy program. He taught philosophy both in the senior high school and college. He was also a law student at the XU College of Law.
The mass dedication described the slain teacher as “a good friend to many, and a loving son and brother to his family.”∎
XAVIER ATENEO STUDENTS. First-year Philosophy students attend the mass dedicated to Philosophy Department’s former faculty member Gexie Ray Ungab at the University Church on December 7. Photo by James Pabonita of The Crusader Publication.