Joavan: I will not surrender

CEBU, Philippines - Joavan Fernandez yesterday announced that he will not surrender, denying he was involved in the shooting of a car wash worker at the South Road Properties last April 11.

"Nganong mutahan man ko? Para ilahang platiran ug bisan unsa? Mutahan ko ug duna ko'y sala. Apan unsa man akong sala? Pwede ba diay ang usa ka-tawo muadto sa duha ka-lugar?" asked Joavan, who called up The FREEMAN yesterday to be interviewed. (Why should I surrender? So they can plant whatever evidence against me? I will surrender if I did something wrong but I did nothing. Is it possible for someone to be in two places at the same time?)

Joavan said security guards at a motel can attest that he was inside their establishment at the time of the shooting.

He said that the police, who continue to pursue him, are abusing their powers.

But Senior Supt. Patrocinio Comendador, the director of the Cebu Provincial Police Office, challenged Joavan to meet with the police if indeed he did not commit any crime.

Joavan also vowed to do everything for the dismissal of the Talisay City Police Station chief, Supt. Elmer Lim.

Lim, Joavan said, made baseless accusations against him regarding the shooting incident last April 11.

Based on the information he got from his father, Joavan accused Lim of being inconsistent with his statements. Right after the shooting incident that injured Eduardo Largo, Lim allegedly said that the gunman was on a white Innova car, but the following day, the police chief said the suspect was on a motorcycle.

Joavan said he was supposed to fix posters for his father, who is running for city councilor, but didn't push through with it so he stayed temporarily at the hotel.

"Mo-confirm g'yud ang security guard ug supervisor nga nangabli sa kwarto nako ug manager nila nga nagda sa Queensland Talisay. Asa man ang tuohan nila, ang log book sa Queensland, o ang pamahayag ni Lim nga wala gyuy testigos," Joavan claimed. (The fuards and the supervisor who opened the room and the manager can attest I was there. Who will you believe, the logbook of the motel, or the statements of Lim who has no witnesses?)

The mayor's adopted son also denied knowing Manolito Sencila and Romy Ramas who were arrested last Tuesday for carrying unlicensed guns and a pack of shabu. They were reportedly hanging out with Joavan then.

Joavan said he was not in Talisay City last Tuesday knowing the hot pursuit operation the police are conducting against him.

"Kinsa ma'y nakakita nako? Ang nakakita ang ila ra sab nga anino, ang ila ra sab nga tawo. Ngano gud tawon nga muanha ko sa Talisay nga ila ko gi-hot pursuit sulod sa 72 hours," Joavan further exclaimed.(I was not in Talisay, why should I stay there when the police are out looking for me?) —/JPM (FREEMAN)