Mayor won’t hand over Joavan to PNP

TALISAY City Mayor Socrates Fernandez said he won’t hand over his adopted son Joavan to the authorities unless the court compels him to do so.

This runs counter to a police official’s statement that he expects Joavan to surrender today, after being blamed for the shooting that injured a car shop watchman, Eduardo Largo Jr., last Friday in Barangay San Isidro, Talisay.

Meanwhile, a member of Tal- isay City’s opposition bloc urged the city’s residents to think of Joavan before casting their votes in next month’s elections. After three consecutive terms, Mayor Fernandez is running for a seat in the City Council this year.

Fernandez told Sun.Star Cebu yesterday he has to consult his lawyers. The mayor explained that since the police have yet to file a case against Joavan, he has no reason to surrender his son to them.

“The police must observe due process,” Fernandez said.

However, Joavan’s lawyer will submit a counter-affidavit to the police today to answer allegations he was behind Largo’s shooting.

Fernandez reiterated that Joavan and a companion were staying in a motel at the time of the alleged shooting. He added that a barber who cut Joavan’s hair at the same time was willing to execute an affidavit.

“He cannot be in two places at once,” Fernandez added.

Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 Director Marcelo Garbo has said the police received surrender feelers, but that the manhunt for Joavan will proceed.

“We have to stop him. We can’t tolerate his behavior,” he said. “He has had too many skirmishes with the law for a long time.”

Garbo said he is in touch

with Supt. Patrocinio Comendador, head of the Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO), for the latest developments in the case of the Talisay City mayor’s son.

Joavan allegedly shot Largo thrice after he got irked when the latter didn’t give him the number of the car shop’s owner.

Largo survived and has been discharged from the hospital.

They are reportedly brothers the same fraternity, although Largo doesn’t think Joavan knows who he is.

Talisay City vice mayoral candidate Romeo Vil- larante, who is with the Liberal Party, said that while a lot of people have been affected by Joavan’s antics, his father may still enjoy popularity with the voters, like in the previous elections.

Villarante said he hopes the people would not forget Joavan’s antics when they cast their votes on May 13.