Nurse refuses settlement with Joavan

CEBU, Philippines - The registered nurse who has accused Joavan Fernandez of pointing a gun at him during a conflict over traffic last June 4 has still refused to settle the case with the controversial son of Talisay City Mayor Socrates Fernandez.

In yesterday afternoon’s mediation presided over by Harry Timtim at the Talisay City’s Hall of Justice, Vincent Joe Castrodes, 28, declined to patch things up with the Joavan, who reiterated his innocence on the accusations against him.

Castrodes charged the 27-year-old Joavan with grave threats after the latter allegedly pointed a gun at him last June 4 in front of Vista Grande Subdivision in Barangay Bulacao.

In his affidavit, Castrodes claimed that Joavan got irked after he blew his car’s horn supposedly to signal the mayor’s son that he was blocking his way. The nurse was passing by the area on his way to the south, when all of a sudden, a red Isuzu Trooper (YEZ 460) came out from the subdivision area and blocked his way.

The complainant said he honked his horn to signal the obstructing car, which he claimed almost bumped his. However, the driver, who later turned out to be Joavan, reportedly got out of his car holding a gun and without a word pointed it at him.

The complainant said as quickly as the alleged gun-pointing, Joavan went back his car and sped off.

Castrodes, who had avowed to charge Joavan, filed the grave threats case against mayor’s son before the Municipal Trial Court in Cities in Talisay. The complainant is reportedly from a well-to-do family.

Meanwhile, a separate criminal case against Joavan, in relation to that incident, is now pending before the Regional Trial Court in Cebu City.

He was charged with violation of the Commission on Elections gun ban, as it happened just days before the ban was to lapse, and illegal possession of firearms case after a .45 caliber pistol and 13 live ammunitions where found inside his Isuzu Trooper during a legal search conducted by the city police and the members of the Provincial Police Office.

Police had to search the car a day after Joavan was arrested in a car shop in Barangay Lawaan 3, shortly after the alleged gun-pointing incident after he failed to produce a gun which Castrodes had claimed the mayor’s son was holding during their short encounter.

The car was left in the car shop, cordoned and guarded by police, and was only opened to be searched the next day, during when the gun and the said ammunitions were recovered.

Joavan was however quick to post bail for his temporary liberty. (THE FREEMAN)