Thursday, August 14, 2008
Congressman suggests that Mayor Fernandez extend his leave to one month
BOTHERED by the rising crime incidents in Talisay City, Rep. Eduardo Gullas yesterday asked the local leaders to address the problem before it gets out of hand.
Calling it a leaders’ meeting, the first district congressman said that city officials, regardless of political affiliations, and representatives of the church, business, education, private and non-government groups must convene soon.
Amid reports that Mayor Socrates Fernandez is taking a leave for two weeks, Gullas suggested that Vice Mayor Lani Abarquez initiate the meeting.
Fernandez will take a leave starting Monday next week in the wake of the mauling incident involving his adopted son, Joavan.
Gullas, in an interview with radio dyRF, suggested that Fernandez extend his leave to one month or even longer.
This way, Gullas said, the witnesses will be assured he won’t influence the case. He will also have more time to attend to his son, he said.
Threat
Joavan and five others were accused of beating up cousins Winston, 18, and Osbert Abellana, both vulcanizing shop workers, over the loss of a spare tire from Fernandez’s service vehicle last Monday dawn.
Mercedita Abellana, the vulcanizing shop owner and a relative of the victims, closed her vulcanizing business and temporarily transferred to another place, leaving her house in Barangay Cansojong with no occupants.
Mary, Mercedita’s younger sister, told dyAB Abante Bisaya yesterday they could not take lightly Joavan’s alleged threat to shoot them with his high-powered machine pistol.
The Talisay City Police was ordered to get the statements of the Abellana family so that a supplemental complaint can be filed against Joavan and his companions.
Cebu Provincial Police Office Director Carmelo Valmoria also assured they will address all concerns of the victims, including their fears that the Talisay City Police were siding with Joavan.
“They do not have to go to another unit. They can ask from our end,” he assured.
While the police arrested the five suspects, two of them minors, Joavan remained scot-free.
Hours after his friends’ arrest, Joavan even visited them twice at the PNP detention cell at City Hall last Monday.
A 17-year-old who confessed he participated in beating up the victims said that Joavan assured he will work for their release.
“Huwat lang sa mo kay init pa kaayo ang media (Just wait until the media attention subsides),” the teenager quoted the mayor’s adopted son as saying.
As a father, Gullas said he understands the mayor’s pain. He lauded Fernandez for taking a leave of absence as this only shows his concern toward his son.
The mayor’s leave, he said, will also erase the perception that Fernandez is taking advantage of his position to influence the victims.
“The honorable mayor must realize the enormity of the problem. He should assert his leadership when he assumes his post. He is also the father of more than 170,000 Talisaynons,” he said.
Gullas and Fernandez are close political allies in Talisay.
Gullas also urged Valmoria to take a closer look at the performance of the local PNP with Supt. Romeo Perigo as its chief.
Valmoria, for his part, talked to Supt. Juanito Enguerra, deputy chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) 7, last Tuesday and they agreed to have the Talisay City Police file the supplemental complaint.
This means the CIDG will no longer file another complaint. Perigo was ordered yesterday morning to get the statements of the victims.
Valmoria said the victims were supposed to proceed to Talisay City after dropping by the CIDG 7 Tuesday afternoon, but they did not go as planned.
He explained that it was the same complaint, although the taking of the television set and DVD player was not included because initially, Mercedita Abellana thought of it as payment for the lost tire.
As to reports that Joavan was spotted at the Talisay City Hall hours after the alleged crime was committed, Valmoria said the responding team was sent there to arrest Joavan but when they arrived, the group had already left.
Valmoria said they received a text message that Joavan was at City Hall, which was why the team was sent there, but he was gone when they arrived. (GC/MEA)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (August 14, 2008 issue)
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