Mayor Soc defends son

MAYOR Socrates Fernandez said he was willing to bring Joavan to the Talisay police station clear up matters but insisted he was innocent.

His allies in the Alayon party called on him to surrender his son to authorities.

Vice Mayor Alan Bucao said Fernandez shouldn’t help Joavan post bail as he’s done in past skirmishes.

“He should surrender Joavan instead of let him stay outside and cause trouble. If I were the father, even if I could afford to pay bail, it’s better not to do so that Joavan would feel remorse for what he’s done,” said Bucao.

Bucao said this was also the stand of Rep. Eduardo Gullas  and their allies in the City Council.

In defense of his son, the mayor said Joavan was in the Andoks eatery in Tabunok and entered Queensland Motel at 12:05am.

“It couldn’t have happened that Joavan shot the man because that took place at 12:30 a.m.,” said the mayor.

He said his son checked out of the motel at 9 a.m.

SPO1 Mikie Espina said all station personnel have joined the manhunt for Joavan but haven’t been able locate him yet.

He said they checked Joavan’s house in Bulacao, the prayer house of the mayor and police counterparts in towns of Minglanilla, Argao and Sibonga where Joavan had friends.

Espina said the Talisay police chief has talked with Mayor Fernandez and the mayor “promised” to help.

If Joavan resists arrests and draws a weapon, Espina said the police will return fire.

“We have no choice. We’ll have to shoot him if needed because he’s armed and victimize someone else,” said Espina.

Joavan was seen joining an Alayon party sortie bringing blinker sirens. Recently an elderly woman in barangay Lagtang complained that Joavan posting campaign materials of the mayor outside her house without her consent.

When she complained and tried to stop him, he reportedly flashed a gun in his waistband, then continued mounting posters in the premises.

Like many other victims, the resident was too scared to file a complaint.

City Administrator Ritchel Bacaltos in a phone interview said this was a “personal issue” for the mayor but not for the Alayon party.

As campaign manager of Alayon party, Bacaltos said he hasn’t seen Joavan during their campaign rallies.

But he said if Joavan shows up, he would tell him to stay away./Gabriel Bonjoc Correspondent