Wednesday, August 20, 2008 Joavan ‘grabs’ 2 young girls By Garry A. Cabotaje Sun.Star Staff Reporter
AFTER keeping itself tight-lipped for days, the Talisay City Council yesterday finally said it is condemning the reported series of violent acts involving Mayor Socrates Fernandez’s adopted son Joavan.
As this developed, Sun.Star Cebu yesterday learned that Joavan was involved in another controversy, this time for allegedly picking up two females – ages 16 and 23 – in Barangay Linao last Monday afternoon.
Rudy Laceda, Linao barangay secretary, said Joavan sought permission from Linao Barangay Council Wendell Caparida that he would take with him the 16-year-old girl and 23-year-old Ivy Ouano, who works at the motor pool section in Talisay City Hall.
The two reportedly weren’t able to refuse as Joavan had a gun with him, Laceda said.
They failed to return home Monday night.
Sun.Star Cebu, however, learned that the 16-year-old girl returned home only at 6 p.m. yesterday. It could not be immediately determined whether Ouano was able to do the same.
Ouano’s father, who is Caparida’s cousin, was reportedly forced to come home because of the incident.
PO2 Edwin Alvarado told Sun.Star Cebu last night that one of the girl’s parents already sought the help of the Talisay City Police regarding the incident and had it recorded in the blotter of the women’s desk.
On leave
As for the condemnation, though, it did not come in the form of an approved resolution but was verbally conveyed by Vice Mayor Lani Abarquez to Fernandez in a meeting at City Hall.
Also, effective yesterday, Abarquez started serving as acting mayor in the absence of Fernandez, who is on a two-week leave.
In an Aug. 14 medical certificate, City Health Office Chief Lino Alanzado advised Fernandez to take a two-week rest after he was diagnosed with pneumonia “to avoid complication.”
He will re-assume his post on Sept. 1.
Upon the suggestion of Abarquez, members of the City Council met with Fernandez and personally informed him that they were no longer pleased with Joavan’s reported acts in the past days.
The council, which is dominated by political allies of Fernandez, had to suspend its session for 20 minutes.
Request
Abarquez, who acted as the group’s spokesperson, said the condemnation was the common sentiment among the council members.
“We are no longer amused by what he’s been doing. We do condemn his act. For the sake of his father, he should voluntarily turn himself in,” she said.
Abarquez said the City Council had to announce its stance after Joavan allegedly threatened again to harm the gas attendants of Petron station in Barangay Lawaan I last Friday afternoon.
Joavan reportedly got mad as he was denied to obtain through credit four cans of car freshener.
Out of fear, gas personnel yielded to his demand but gave only two cans of car freshener.
Petron reportedly allows Joavan to refuel, all charged to the mayor’s credit line.
Coercion
The gas station is the same facility that Joavan reportedly threatened to blow up last month after he was refused to gas up because of unpaid bills.
The Talisay City Police Station recorded it as a coercion incident when it faxed a spot report to the Cebu Provincial Police Office the next day.
The incident happened barely four days after Joavan and five others allegedly snatched and beat up two vulcanizing shop laborers – cousins Osbert Abellana, 21 and Winston, 18 - outside his house at Friendly Homes in Barangay Tabunok.
They are now facing two counts of illegal detention, physical injuries and grave threats at the City Prosecutor’s Office.
Vulcanizing shop owner Mercedita Abellana and Osbert also filed a separate robbery case against Joavan for allegedly taking away their TV set and a DVD player.
Out on bail
At present, Joavan is out on bail for the shooting to death of PUJ driver Panfilo Barinque in Bara-ngay Cansojong in 2006.
Three other shooting victims - Barinque’s jeepney conductor and two teenagers – refused to pursue a frustrated murder case against him.
Meanwhile, Talisay City Police Station Chief Romeo Perigo assured Abarquez he will submit an investigation report on Joavan’s case for review at the City Council.
Perigo, who visited City Hall, briefed Abarquez about the filing of criminal cases against Joavan.
The acting mayor quoted Perigo as saying that two counts of the filed cases were non-bailable.
Perigo has been under fire following reports that the local police did not exert serious efforts to arrest Joavan following the mauling of the Abellana cousins last week.
Joavan’s five alleged cohorts, two of them minors, have already been jailed at the PNP-run detention cell at City Hall.
