PHP Codeigniter Parameter Encoding Problem

I have an autocomplete that connects via ajax, but when I typed accented letters that are even in the database, the query did not return anything. Both the bank php.ini and the settings of the codeigniter ( database.php , config.php ) are set to utf-8, the files are saved with UTF-8 as well.

Autocompletes:

I tried to test it by accessing the direct url, for the method of getLocalidadesByUf of controller Base.php , and print the parameter to see how it was arriving, typed bed , but when page is submitted the value arrives as *cama%C3%A7*

class Base extends CI_Controller 
{
  public function getLocalidadesByUf($uf, $nome) { 
    echo json_encode($this->uf_model->getLocalidadesByUf($uf, $nome), JSON_UNESCAPED_UNICODE); 
  }
}

I'm pretty lost and I do not know what to do, would I have a tip?