CEBU, Philippines - Barely five months since turning around from being a menace to a crime buster, the controversial son of Talisay City Mayor Socrates Fernandez appeared to be back in his old self, allegedly threatening to kill a traffic enforcer.
“Balikan ta mo diha. Magda ko og M16, rakrakan ta mo!” traffic enforcer Malorence Manreal quoted Joavan Fernadez as saying.
Manreal, in his report to Talisay City Police Station, said the trouble started when he chased a white BMW car for traffic violation near a shopping mall in Barangay Tabunok.
The 33-year-old traffic enforcer recalled that he was monitoring the intersection when the BMW car changed lane and drove off to a separate direction on a stopping signal.
Manreal said this forced some pedestrians to back off. He said he flagged down the driver of the car but instead of stopping, the driver tried to hit him and sped off.
The traffic enforcer then took his motorcycle and chased the vehicle, which was heading to the Tabunok flyover and stopped under the Tabunok flyover.
It was reportedly at this juncture when Joavan emerged from the vehicle. But before the traffic enforcer could say a word, Joavan allegedly told him that he would have him terminated from his job.
“Ipataktak tika sa trabaho,” Joavan allegedly told Manreal.
For fear of losing his job, Manreal told Joavan to forgive him if he did something.
Joavan then left but came back five minutes later, allegedly telling Manreal and other traffic enforcers who were in the area that he would be back with a gun and kill them all.
When Manreal went to the police station to report the incident, PO3 Roelito Tano said police had offered their patrol car to Manreal to chase Joavan but he reportedly rejected it.
Tano said Manreal has not yet decided whether he would file a complaint against the mayor’s son.
The FREEMAN tried to contact Joavan through his mobile phone, but he was not available for comment late yesterday afternoon. (FREEMAN)