Love triangle stirs new controversy: "Jealous" Joavan attacks former pal

CEBU – It seems Joavan Fernandez could not live a single day without being involved in a controversy.

Last Friday afternoon, the son of Talisay City Mayor Socrates Fernandez was accused of trying to hurt a friend reportedly because he was “jealous” upon learning that his friend has been courting the secretary of his uncle.

The victim, who is identified as Kashmir dela Cuesta, is a former job order employee at Talisay City’s motor pool. He is reportedly the former “sidekick” partner of Joavan who accompanied him when he was recently hacked in sitio Magay, barangay Tanke.

Based on the log book of the motor pool’s security guard Jerry Diaz, around 3:39 p.m. last Friday, Joavan arrived on board his green Pajero and went inside the office of his uncle, Loloy Fernandez, the chief of the motor pool.

Dela Cuesta happened to be around during that time to follow-up on the issuance of a new punch card so that he can again report to his duty at the motor pool.

But upon seeing dela Cuesta, Joavan allegedly immediately threw a bullet at him, hitting dela Cuesta in the head. Joavan then reportedly told him, “regalo nako nimo.”

After the incident Joavan went back to his car and left the motor pool.

But around 4:40 p.m., Joavan returned to the motor pool and upon noticing dela Custa again, he allegedly tried to hit the latter with his car. Dela Cuesta was on his way out of the motor pool on board his bicycle during the incident.

Diaz said Joavan then threw punches at dela Cuesta but missed. The victim, however, did not hit back at Joavan.

Diaz called up the police and reported the incident but Joavan already left the motor pool when the police arrived.

SPO1 Archimedes Judilla of Talisay City Police Station brought dela Cuesta to the sub-police station located at the city hall for investigation.

Diaz told The Freeman yesterday afternoon that Joavan was reportedly jealous to Dela Cuesta, who has been reportedly courting Ivy Ouano, the secretary of his uncle.

Joavan and Ouano were reported to have special relationship.

It can be recalled that it was reported that Ivy and her minor cousin had been allegedly abducted by Joavan.

But Ivy and her cousin refused to sign an affidavit against Joavan, saying that he did not abduct them.

They said Joavan only took them for a boat ride on board the pump boat of Talisay City’s Fisherman Sea and Ecological Care (FISECA).

On other hand, the father of Osbert Abellana who filed a complaint for serious illegal detention against Joavan said they would not withdraw the case.

Oscar Abellana said he was upset upon learning that his sister-in-law Mercedita Abellana and his nephew Winston, who is also one of the victims, withdrew their cases against Joavan.

Mercedita also filed a robbery case against Joavan before the Talisay City Prosecutor’s Office.

Oscar told The Freeman that Mercedita’s son Ondong Dako was offered to be sent back to school next week while Winston was offered a job at the city hall.

Winston has allegedly started performing his city hall duty last Friday.

Oscar was also given a certification by the mayor to be a bonafide barker at the Tabunok area while his son Osbert was also offered a job at the city hall.

Meanwhile, city officials said they are going to confirm the report that the victims were offered to work at the city hall.

Vice Mayor Lani Abarquez told The Freeman that she would look into the matter.

Councilor Alan Bucao also told The Freeman that he is upset by the report but said he would first confirm the case.

Bucao is also not amenable to the giving of funds to Joavan’s victims. He said those funds should have been used for projects in the city for the benefit of all.

Bucao added that the giving of funds already happened before when a public utility jeepney driver was shot to death and the suspect was Joavan.

The son of the victim is now even working at the city hall.

Last Friday, The Freeman called up the city hall human resource department to confirm the reported employment of Joavan’s victims.

But human resource chief Emily Cabrera cannot be reached for comment as she was out of her office for an important appointment. -/LPM (THE FREEMAN)