Soc's son charged over shooting spree

The Talisay City Prosecutor's Office formally filed criminal charges in court against the adopted son of Talisay City Mayor Socrates Fernandez after a man injured in Tuesday dawn's shooting incidents identified him as the gunman.

Talisay City prosecutor Marshall Rubia yesterday filed frustrated murder against Joavan Fernandez and three other unidentified persons before the regional trial court.

This after Timoteo Aleo identified him as the man onboard a Toyota Revo who shot him and his companion Panfilo Barinque in sitio Maglasang barangay Cansojong.

Barinque, a public utility jeepney driver, died on the spot while Aleo, his conductor, sustained two gunshot wounds.

The Talisay police are expected to file another case for murder against Fernandez later for Barinque's death as soon as they have enough evidence.

Fernandez, accompanied by Talisay City information officer Ike Durano II, immediately posted P200,000 bail for his temporary liberty.

Aleo, 32, tagged Fernandez as the one in stripe T-shirt who shot him and Barinque while they were sitting at a kiosk in Maglasang Subdivision in barangay Cansojong at about 3:30 a.m. on Tuesday.

Aleo claimed that Fernandez alighted from a gray Toyota Revo, approached them and asked if they knew of a Tau Gamma Phi member. He alleged that without any provocation, Fernandez pulled out a .45 cal. pistol and shot them point blank.

Aside from the shooting in Cansojong, Fernandez was also implicated in another shooting incident in a nearby barangay Dumlog. Two people were injured during that incident.

Carlos de la Calzada and Edmund Ong were standing near a burger stand when a gunman onboard a Toyota Revo opened fire at them. Witnesses told police that the car was also the one used in the Cansojong shooting.

Fernandez, however, denied any involvement in those incidents and offered to voluntarily submit himself to a polygraph test. - Fred P. Languido/LPM