TALISAY City policemen found themselves in a high-speed chase Tuesday night as they pursued Joavan Fernandez following reports that he “abducted” two young girls last Monday.
But while the girls practically cleared Joavan of the allegations, the mayor’s son is still not off the hook.
Joavan, the girls and a male companion allegedly used a City Hall-owned motor boat for a “joyride” off Canton Beach in Barangay Cansojong last Tuesday afternoon.
Fishermen Sea and Ecological Care (Fiseca) chairman Gregorio dela Torre confirmed this, adding that the group had dinner together at the beach before heading home aboard a green Pajero.
Fiseca operates under the office of Mayor Fernandez.
Can’t say no
“Who am I to refuse the mayor’s son?” said dela Torre.
Fiseca is Talisay City’s version of the Bantay Dagat and operates directly under the office of Mayor Socrates Fernandez.
Dela Torre said that Joavan, in a friendly manner, approached him and requested that he be allowed to use the motorized
boat.
Joavan and his friends arrived aboard a green Pajero shortly before noon. They had with them gasoline in a plastic can, dela Torre said, adding that he did not notice a firearm tucked in Joavan’s waistband.
The group took their lunch together and had their time at the beach.
Dela Torre also said the use of the 16-horsepower motor boat was not recorded in their logbook because Joavan arrived while they were having their monthly meeting.
It was reportedly the first time that Joavan used the motorboat.
Asked about Fiseca’s policy on the use of its boats, dela Torre said employees are allowed to use these vessels. Private individuals may do so provided they secure a permit from City Hall.
But Acting Talisay City Mayor Lani Abarquez disagreed, saying that Joavan’s personal use of the boat was improper.
“It’s for the sole use of the City’s anti-illegal fishing operations, not for one’s leisure trip,” she said.
With this, Abarquez is set to issue a memorandum ordering Fiseca and department offices to use City-owned vehicles exclusively for official trips.
Abarquez is currently the acting mayor at City Hall after Fernandez took a two-week leave of absence because of pneumonia and reportedly because of the alleged controversies his adopted son has gotten himself into.
Chase
It was when the group went home that the chase took place.
The high-speed chase, which led all the way to the South Road Properties (SRP) in Cebu City, occurred after policemen spotted a green Pajero while conducting an inquiry in Barangay Linao.
Lawmen, however, failed to intercept the vehicle despite roadblocks set up by mobile patrol cops at SRP and near a school in Barangay Bulacao.
PO3 Brenda Espina, Women and Children’s Desk investigator, and PO2 Roilito Tano went to Linao past 5 p.m. after they got a report about the alleged abduction of Ivy Ouano, 26, and her 15-year-old (not 16 as earlier reported) cousin.
Reports said that Joavan drove them home aboard a Pajero around 9 p.m. the next day.
Sensing the cops’ presence, Joavan reportedly quickly made a u-turn and sped off, prompting the police to chase him.
Linao Councilor Wendell Caparida, the girl’s uncle, reportedly got alarmed because she and Ouano did not return home since Monday.
The teenager, a high school student, was reportedly entrusted to Caparida because her businessman-father is in Manila while her mother is working abroad.
Reporters tried to interview Caparida, but failed to get his comment.
Voluntary
But when investigated, the two women strongly denied that Joavan had abducted them.
“…The victims did not cooperate and told the policemen that their group just went out with Joavan to enjoy at Canton Beach in Barangay Cansojong,” read a spot report signed by Talisay Police Station Chief Romeo Perigo.
A radio dyAB Abante Bisaya report quoted Linao tanod chief Dominador Poncardas as saying that Ouano, a motor pool employee at City Hall, is Joavan’s girlfriend.
Apart from Joavan, a certain Yengyeng Enjambre, who was reportedly the teenager’s partner, was the fourth man in the group, the report added.
Police believed the group stayed overnight at Canton Beach. They were in Joavan’s company for 24 hours.
Despite the girls’ refusal to pin Joavan down, Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) Chief Carmelo Valmoria said the parents of the teenager can still file a complaint against Joavan considering that she is a minor.
“But it seems the father is not also interested (to file a case),” said Valmoria, who visited the Talisay City Police Station yesterday morning.
For his part, Caparida told the police that he had to get the consent of the girl’s parents before issuing statements.
Rudy Laceda, Linao barangay secretary, told Sun.Star Cebu earlier that Caparida, although hesitant, just allowed his niece to go with Joavan because the latter had a firearm bulging from his waistband.
Still, Valmoria said the Talisay police will pursue its inquiry to get a comprehensive report on the incident.
Assessment
Abarquez is set to hold a meeting with the Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) officials tomorrow to discuss the “worsening” peace and order in Talisay.
Abarquez said they will also assess the performance of Supt. Perigo as head of the Talisay City Police Station.
During his visit yesterday, Valmoria talked to Perigo for nearly two hours. After the meeting, Valmoria told the reporters that the local police force have been acting appropriately on Joavan’s case.
He also assured to look into information that Joavan has been “illegally” carrying high-powered guns.
Valmoria, who also paid a courtesy call on Abarquez, dodged questions on perceptions of mismanagement at the Talisay police force.
“He (Perigo) is still the chief of police,” he added.
For her part, Abarquez said she wants to erase the perception that Talisaynons no longer have trust and confidence in the local police force. She also wants to remove the impression that Talisay is not a safe place to live in. (GC)
