| Injured | Killed |
|---|---|
| 1 | 0 |
Date: 13 April 2013
Source: The Freeman
CEBU, Philippines – Just a couple of days after Rep. Eduardo Gullas told media that Joavan Fernandez must undergo rehabilitation, Cebu is hearing the same thing all over again: Joavan hurting somebody with a gun, his father Talisay City Mayor Socrates Fernandez defending him, and the police vowing to get him.
Yesterday dawn, Joavan allegedly shot a carshop watchman at the Cebu South Coastal Road, barangay San Isidro, Talisay City.
Eduardo Largo Jr., 36, survived a gunshot wound in the right arm and left foot and was treated only as an outpatient. He works at the Danryan Marketing, a car shop, in the place owned by Jun Causon, younger brother of SPO1 Edgar Causon, a Talisay City police investigator.
Police Regional Office 7 Director Marcelo Garbo, Jr. ordered his men to arrest Joavan.
“Let’s put a stop to his long-time skirmishes with the law,” Garbo said.
Based on the investigation by SPO1 Causon and PO2 Evie Espina, Joavan was the backrider of a motorcycle that kept crossing back several times the road in front of the car shop. The motorcycle went against traffic and stopped in front of the shop.
Joavan disembarked and asked Largo the phone number of the car shop owner. But Largo replied that he did not know the number of the owner. This angered Joavan who pulled a gun and shot the victim thrice.
After the shooting, Joavan went back to the motorcycle and left.
The police recovered from the crime scene a fragment of a slug believed to be from Joavan’s firearm.
Like he did in previous incidents, Mayor Fernandez defended his son.
According to the mayor, Joavan was checked-in at Queensland Hotel in barangay Mohon from midnight and stayed there until 9:00 a.m. yesterday.
The mayor pointed out hotel records showing the time Joavan checked in and checked out, adding that there is somebody who can prove this. Joavan was in the hotel sleeping when the shooting incident happened, he added.
He also said that the vehicle that was used by his son is a red Isuzu. The mayor sent a text message to Joavan asking him to show himself to the police to clear his name.
In defending his son, Mayor Fernandez said it is impossible for a person to be in two places at the same time.
He added that he and Joavan talked yesterday morning and his son denied the allegations against him.
Superintendent Elmer Lim, officer-in-charge of Talisay City Police Station, said they are conducting a hot pursuit operation.
He said that Joavan is not only an “election threat” but a threat of the peace and order of Talisay even before the election season.
It’s possible that Joavan is under the influence of illegal drugs and did the shooting just as a “trip,” Lim said, because Largo and the owner of the car shop did not know him.
Lim urged the mayor yesterday to surrender his son and urged the public to report or give information to the police if they know Joavan’s whereabouts.
Meanwhile, City Administrator and Alayon campaign manager Richel Bacaltos said that the issue of Joavan cannot affect the campaign of the group.
He said that Joavan is not included in their campaign crew and the latest incident of Joavan did not involve campaigning.
Bacaltos added that the mayor is responsible for his son and they already called the attention of the mayor regarding this.
Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) Director Patrocinio Comendador claimed they already have information on the whereabouts of Joavan. He has also directed the Provincial Intelligence Branch (PIB) to help the Talisay City police in the operation.
Comendador said a hot pursuit operation will be conducted for one to two weeks and if they failed to arrest Joavan, they will move on to the regular filing of case.
“I encourage other victims to file case against Joavan kay these could add up as aggravating circumstances,” Comendador said.
He further said that even if Largo would refrain from filing a case, the police could file violation for Comelec gun ban.
“We can no longer assure his (Joavan) safety considering he is armed,” the Provincial Director said.
Last week, Florita Rosas, 54, of Barangay Lagtang, reportedly went to the police station and informed the police that Joavan was armed while setting up campaign posters at the place.
Rosas tried to confront Fernandez not to put up posters near her house, which probably irritated Joavan who went to his car parked nearby and came back with a gun.
She added that Fernandez continued setting up posters.
Largo, for his part, said he will pursue charges against the mayor’s son even if he is just poor. He wondered why Joavan did that to him when he did not do anything wrong. — /JPM (FREEMAN)