Soc yields son to police after shooting allegation

Talisay City Mayor Socrates Fernandez personally surrendered his adopted son Joavan to the Talisay City Police Station following reports that the latter was involved in a shooting spree Tuesday dawn.

The teary-eyed Fernandez told reporters that the recent incident linking his son Joavan was the "worst" in his life as a politician. "This is a very extraordinary happening. This is the worst."

Fernandez turned over Joavan yesterday afternoon to the custody of acting Talisay City police chief Romeo Perigo. The mayor said that when he heard about Joavan being tagged as one of those who killed a public utility driver Tuesday dawn, he immediately confronted his son.

But Fernandez said Joavan, who submitted himself to a paraffin test Tuesday night, vehemently denied the allegation.

PUJ driver Panfilo Barinque, 49, was shot dead Tuesday dawn by a gunman onboard a Toyota Revo Sports Utility Vehicle while standing with his conductor along the road in sitio Maglasang, barangay Cansojong.

Barinque, a resident of Ramona Village II, barangay San Isidro, sustained three gunshot wounds in his chest and right shoulder. His conductor, Temoteo Aleo, 33, sustained two gunshot wounds and is now being treated at the hospital.

According to witnesses, the two were standing along the road when the gunman, armed with .45 caliber pistol, alighted from the vehicle and opened fire.

After that incident, another shooting incident occurred in nearby barangay Dumlog. Carlos dela Calzada, 22, and Edmund Ong, 18 were standing near a burger stand when a man carrying a .45 cal. pistol shot them. Dela Calzada was hit in the stomach while Ong sustained a bullet wound in the nape. The two, however, they survived the attack.

Witnesses told police that the gunman was riding an SUV and police believed it was the same car used in the Cansojong shooting based on the witnesses' accounts. The witnesses and Aleo allegedly pointed to Joavan as the gunman.

Perigo, in an interview, said the witnesses have yet to give their statements to them. He added that they are giving them ample time to submit their affidavits, which will be the basis for the filing of proper charges in court.

Joavan, according to Perigo, volunteered himself for investigation to clear his name. The result of the paraffin test, which is set to come out today, will also be used as evidence, Perigo explained, adding that they are still facing a blank wall about the car used in the shooting.

But Perigo said there is "no clear evidence" that would link Joavan to the shooting since everything about the allegation was mere "hearsay." "He (Joavan) is not under arrest."

Fernandez said he is "saddened" by the "very serious accusation" about his 23-year-old son being linked to the crime. But the mayor said that if Joavan was indeed the culprit, he must bow down to the law.

Fernandez also admitted that he temporarily suspended Joavan, who is assigned at the city's motorpool division, pending the investigation of the case.

Meanwhile, the son of Minglanilla town councilor Jaime Caumeran was also implicated in the incident. Giovanni Caumeran, 25, is Joavan's close friend who reportedly owned the SUV used in the shooting.

After visiting Perigo's office, the elder Caumeran said that he asked the police chief if indeed his son was involved in the incident.

In a separate interview, Caumeran said his family does not own a Toyota Revo, although he could not say where his son was at the time of the incident.

Perigo said they have also other suspects and in the next few days, he is hopeful that they will eventually have a clear lead on the case. - Liv G. Campo/LPM