Yap family defers suit vs Jawo’s son

The family of 14-year-old Angelo Elton Yap deferred yesterday the filing of charges against the group of Ryan Jaworski to give way to negotiations for an out-of-court settlement of the case.

Yap’s counsel, lawyer Byron San Pedro, confirmed that the family of businessman Antonio Yap and Sen. Robert Jaworski are locked in negotiations aimed at ending the conflict spawned by a shooting incident last week at the parking area of the Saisaki restaurant in East Greenhills, Mandaluyong City.

Jaworski was shot in both legs in the 10-minute gunfight while his rival Elton has been left traumatized by the incident.

San Pedro admitted he is not involved in the negotiations, but claimed the elder Yap has been updating him of developments. He refused to say where the meeting is taking place.

"I was told by Mr. Yap to reset the filing of the charges to give way to ongoing negotiations," San Pedro said, adding that his client is quite pleased with the "latest development."

The Yap camp had given their counterparts a midnight deadline to lay down their cards and settle the case amicably. "If the two camps failed to arrive at an agreement, Mr. Yap would have called me and it means that I would have had to file the charges," said San Pedro.

Earlier, the lawyer said it was not that hard to forgive the Jaworski camp since the elder Yap and Ryan’s father, outgoing Sen. Robert Jaworski, are "acquainted."

He said, however, the Jaworski camp should make the first move and apologize.

San Pedro confirmed earlier reports that a "middleman" worked to set up negotiations to end the conflict. "Mabigat ang middleman," he said.

However, he refused to identify him.

When asked about the damages the Yap camp was seeking from the Jaworski family, San Pedro said: "We are not yet thinking of that."

The lawyer said he has prepared all documents with regards to the filing of attempted murder, illegal possession of firearms, violation of child protection act and grave threats charges against Ryan; his brother, Ron; Mark Causek, Alexander Lopez and 12 other John Does.

"I had been ready since Sunday," he said.

For his part, Superintendent Ericson Velasquez, Mandaluyong City police chief, said he will file illegal discharge of firearms, damage to property and alarm and scandal charges against Yap and Jaworski today.

He said the affidavits of Senior Superintendents Benjamin Landrito and Nicanor Bartolome will play a big role in the filing of cases against the two protagonists in the shooting incident. Landrito and Bartolome owned two of the six cars badly damaged by the gunfight.

Velasquez said the police has four witnesses of the incident, but one of them a security guard, has gone missing.

"One of our witness stopped reporting to work since he was interviewed by a TV station about the shooting incident," Velasquez said.

According to Velasquez, the Firearms and Explosives Division (FED) in Camp Crame have asked Ryan and the Yaps to surrender their firearms for ballistic examination.

The police chief said Sen. Jaworski has expressed willingness to submit Ryan’s car for examination by the crime laboratory of the Philippine National Police (PNP) at Camp Crame.

Police recovered 81 spent shells at the scene, 21 of which came from an M-16 rifle.

More guns

Two members of the Yap clan have at least six firearms under their names, according to police.

Police records showed that Elton’s older brother, Mark Anthony Yap, has two caliber .45 pistols under his name. Both firearms have necessary permits from the Philippine National Police Firearms and Explosives Division.

A check with the gun records of their father, Antonio Yap, showed he has four firearms including an M-16 rifle. He also has under his name a 9mm Glock pistol, a caliber .38 Danwe revolver and a 12-gauge shotgun.

All of the elder Yap’s firearms have gun licenses, except for the 12-gauge shotgun, the permit of which expired on Oct. 3, 2003.

Whether or not these were used in the June 21 shooting incident in East Greenhills would be the subject of the investigation by the Mandaluyong police, Civil Security Group (CSG) director Chief Superintendent Jaime Caringal said yesterday.

Caringal said his unit is still awaiting for the formal request of the Mandaluyong police to determine whether the Yaps or Jaworskis used the guns registered under their names during the alleged gunfight.

Out of the 13 firearms registered under Ryan Jaworski, three licenses have been revoked by the CSG. Police initially said the young Jaworski had 11 firearms, 10 of which had expired licenses.

Caringal said the licenses for a Colt 5.56 rifle and his two 9mm pistols had been revoked after Ryan was involved in the shooting of rats along a creek in San Juan in September 2002.

Meanwhile, one of the two police officers whose vehicle was hit by bullets during the exchange of gunfire expressed hope that the police would eventually file a case against the Yaps and Jaworskis.

Landrito said he and Bartolome have forwarded their complaints to help speed up the case.

"It is up to them to decide what charges to file. We have submitted our affidavits (for damage to property) on our part," Landrito said. — with Christina Mendez