Thursday, September 04, 2008 Editorials: Demonizing Joavan
JUST when everybody thought Joavan Fernandez has finally decided to shy away from the limelight, in came the reported attempt on his life in Tangke, Talisay the other night.
The incident is a variation of the usual controversies involving the son of Talisay City Mayor Socrates Fernandez---for once he was the one harassed, not the one doing the harassing.
That is probably the reason why many people find it difficult to believe that the Tangke incident was spontaneous.
The theory that it was scripted seem to be given credence also by the sloppy manner the attack was done: the bolo used needed sharpening and the part of the body hit was not vital.
This is of course unfair for Joavan, who may really have been a victim in that incident, and to his father, whose name was jokingly dragged by wags as the scriptwriter.
Frustration
But one could not blame some sectors for the lack of belief.
The story of the “Boy Who Cried Wolf” is applicable here, as there are many people who feel that authorities have been scheming and maneuvering just so they can’t make Joavan account for his alleged misdeeds.
That made dealing with Joavan no longer a matter of honestly.
The incident was also ridiculed and described as comical, and there seems to be people who would have felt happier had Joavan died, which is unfortunate.
But then again this is a result of people’s frustration over the failure of authorities to rein in Joavan.
Swift action
To be fair to Mayor Soc and Joavan, however, it would be good to remind people of the danger of the ongoing demonization of the mayor’s son because this could lead to people taking the law into their hands.
Demonizing involves loss of objectivity, of overplaying or bloating up Joavan’s every negative act and failing to appreciate or intentionally brushing aside good deeds he may have done, if there are any.
That sparks an urge to set aside due process, which in this case involves the call of some people for vigilantes to intrude in the Joavan case.
But the demonizing could stop if Joavan himself straightens up his act and institutions like the police and the courts act swiftly in resolving cases involving the mayor’s son.
