Joavan’s accuser ‘missing’
The Talisay police could no longer locate the man who accused Joavan Fernandez of hitting him with a bottle of Tanduay Ice.
Supt. Eddie Recamara, chief of the Talisay City police, said they are looking for Reggie Aranas to shed light on the incident and for the possible filing of charges against Joavan, adopted son of Talisay City Mayor Socrates Fernandez.
On Wednesday, SPO1 Joel Rosales went to barangay Bulacao-Pardo to look for Aranas.
Accompanied by barangay officials, Rosales went to Aranas’ house but he was not found there.
Rosales met a person also named Regie Aranas but he was not the same man who accused Joavan of hitting him in the head. The man had no signs of injury in the head.
Without a complainant, its difficult to file any charges against Joavan, said Recamara.
Reporters yesterday went to Balay Ampuanan, a prayer house in Vista Grande where Joavan used to stay, but didn’t find him there.
Minutes after the arrival of reporters, Mayor Fernandez arrived on board a red-plate green Mitsubishi Adventure. The mayor asked reporters to stop chasing Joavan. He said his son is going through physical and emotional pains.
“Respect us. Don’t force him if he doesn’t want to be interviewed,” said the mayor in Cebuano.
Joavan allegedly struck Aranas with a bottle in a fast- food chain in barangay Tabunok.
Initial investigation showed that Aranas and his friends were about to pay their bills when Joavan approached one of Aranas’ female friends.
Aranas reportedly asked Joavan not to mess around with his friend.
Joavan allegedly got irked and hit Aranas with a bottle of Tanduay Ice. Joavan left after the incident, while Aranas was brought to the Talisay City District Hospital.
Joavan denied that he provoked the girl. He said he got upset when Aranas stared at him from head to foot.
Joavan also denied that he mauled Marlorenz Monreal, a member of the City of Talisay-Traffic Operation Division Authoritiy.
In a complaint recorded at the Talisay City police precinct, Monreal said Joavan allegedly threatened to kill him after he flagged him down for a traffic violation. Correspondent Gabriel C. Bonjoc
