Wednesday, September 03, 2008 Joavan unhurt in bolo attack By Garry A. Cabotaje Sun.Star Staff Reporter
JOAVAN Fernandez was hacked with a bolo in Sitio Magay, Barangay Tanke, Talisay City last night. He survived, suffering only a minor graze in the upper back of his thigh.
Chief Tanod Luciano Benitez said Joavan was talking to a mango vendor by the roadside when a certain Randy Bazar attacked him from behind at around 7 p.m.
Joavan’s white service vehicle was reportedly parked nearby.
Still brandishing the bolo, Bazar then fled toward the interior portion of Sitio Magay, a populated coastal area in Tanke. Bystanders reportedly identified the suspect, who is still at large.
Benitez believes that Bazar used a dull bolo when he hacked Joavan, raising speculations the incident could have been staged to gain public sympathy for Mayor Socrates Fernandez’s adopted son.
The attack happened while the mayor was busy preaching the Bible in his nightly program at the Catholic-run dyRF Radio Fuerza.
“Had Bazar used a sharp weapon, Joavan would have been suffering from a serious, if not fatal, wound. But he’s okay now,” added Benitez, who was also interviewed over radio dySS last night.
Responding tanods and Joavan reportedly did not chase the attacker, as they would reportedly be exposed to risk in Magay’s interior portion.
Benitez said Joavan and a female friend were in Tanke to have dinner at the house of a certain Macaraya, a family friend.
The tanod chief said Joavan frequents Tanke because he reportedly has friends there, being the mayor’s son.
