EDITORIAL - Old habits die hard

Joavan Fernandez has returned to his old habits. That is how this paper correctly described in its headline story title yesterday the shooting incident involving the controversial adopted son of Talisay City Mayor Socrates Fernandez who was accused of shooting a gasoline station Sunday dawn.

Joavan reportedly fired his gun as he got irked upon seeing pump attendants at a Shell gasoline station in Barangay Bulacao run away when they saw him approaching on a vehicle without a plate number.

He reportedly still has unpaid bills with the gasoline station and the management had instructed the pump attendants not to attend to him anymore unless he settles his balance. So when the pump boys noticed Joavan’s arrival, they scampered away for fear he would harass them if they refuse to refill his vehicle.

Good thing no one was injured when he opened fire his .45 caliber pistol at the cashier’s booth three times before speeding toward Barangay Tabunok. Talisay City Police Station chief Supt. Eddie Recamara has already ordered his men to arrest Joavan over the incident.    

Months ago, when reports came out that Joavan spearheaded a feeding program for Talisay City’s street children, many thought he was well on his way to self-renewal. They were glad to hear that, at last, he has finally found a path that would lead him back to the fold of the law.   

In fact, as he started to steer away from his old habits, city authorities tapped him to help them in the campaign against crimes. His father even appointed him as head of the Talisay City Mananga Task Force.

Now Joavan has again hogged the headlines in the latest shooting spree at a gasoline station following an incident in September in which he was accused of firing his gun outside the house of a moneylender who refused to lend him P10,000.

The public perception now is that Joavan has turned into a hopeless case. After these latest brushes with the law, we begin to think that he will never have a chance to reform himself. It seems old habits are hard to kick.

The problem is that proper punishment hardly comes every time Joavan pulls the trigger of his gun. This is because his father would then quickly come to his rescue, paving the way for settlement with his victims.

Had Joavan been able to suffer the harsh consequences of his previous offenses, he would have no choice except to undoubtedly think twice before he brandishes his gun again.