Saturday, October 04, 2008 Nalzaro: Turnaround of complainants in Joavan case By Bobby Nalzaro Saksi
DID Talisay City Mayor Soc Fernandez exert pressure, use his influence or offer money to the complainants in the case against his beloved son, Joavan, prompting them to sign an affidavit of desistance?
The question was raised after Mercedita Abellana and her nephew, Winston, executed affidavits of desistance clearing Fernandez's son of any criminal liability in an incident that happened months ago.
This time, Winston claimed it was his cousin Osbert who took the spare tire of the mayor’s vehicle and sold it. Osbert failed to execute an affidavit of desistance, as he is in Carcar City.
The Abellanas accused Joavan of mauling Winston and Osbert and of stealing Mercedita’s appliances after he found out that the spare tire deposited at the Abellanas’ vulcanizing shop was missing.
Winston and Osbert alleged that they were forcibly brought to Joavan's residence and mauled. Mercedita said Joavan took her television and DVD set.
The Abellanas filed serious illegal detention and robbery charges against Joavan and his accomplices. The latter are now in jail as serious illegal detention is a non-bailable offense. Joavan's case was resolved by the prosecutor's office separately because he was not immediately arrested.
Mercedita, who acted as spokesperson of the victims, was vocal against the mayor and Joavan. She condemned them and vowed to seek justice for the abduction and mauling of her nephews.
She was also quoted as saying she will no longer vote for Fernandez in the coming elections for failing to discipline his son.
She even chided Soc for his bible-teaching activity, saying he is a hypocrite because he did not apply it to his son.
Mercedita has eaten back her words. But what prodded her and Winston to do so? Mayor Fernandez claimed that the affidavit of desistance was a product of a reconciliation meeting with the victims, who were his relatives. Don't make us laugh, Brod Soc.
This is not the first time Fernandez intervened in a case involving his adopted son. The family of a murder victim withdrew the case they filed against Joavan after Soc reportedly offered them house and lot. It looks like the mayor is doing the same thing in Joavan’s latest caper.
Sources said the signing of the affidavit of desistance was done at the mayor's office on the day these were filed at the fiscal's office. Money allegedly changed hands at Mario's Grill in Barangay Linao where Soc and Mercedita's group reportedly met over lunch three days ago. The mayor, though, has still to react to this allegation.
In an interview with Osbert's father, Oscar, in my dySS program yesterday, he said Mayor Soc went to see him the other day and invited him to a secret meeting. Before he left, he handed Oscar an envelop containing a certification designating him as a dispatcher in a Tabunok taxi terminal. It did mention his status of employment and compensation.
After the mayor left, an unidentified City Hall official arrived and asked for the whereabouts of Osbert. He told Oscar to tell his son that City Hall is offering him work. Oscar viewed the offer as a bribe so his son will also withdraw his case against Joavan. But he promised not to be swayed by the offer and to continue to seek justice for his son.
Brod Soc, a Catholic faith defender, is being pictured here as one who is using his power and influence to dissuade the alleged victims of Joavan’s abusive acts from seeking justice. Isn’t this a sin?
