CEBU, Philippines - A day after he was accused of threatening a traffic enforcer, Joavan Fernandez is again in the limelight for allegedly hitting a man on the head with a liquor bottle at Barangay Tabunok, Talisay City yesterday dawn.
Joavan, according to reports, hit Regie Aranas, 24, of Barangay Bulacao Pardo, Cebu City while they were inside a fast-food chain. The victim sustained a cut on his head.
The incident started when Aranas, who was with female friends, went to the counter to pay. At this moment, Joavan approached the victim’s friends and allegedly started mocking them.
Aranas approached Talisay City Mayor Socrates Fernandez’s son to pacify him but Joavan instead hit Aranas with the bottle of liquor that he was holding.
In an interview with The FREEMAN, Joavan said he was not mocking Aranas’ friends. He said he was just cracking jokes with them after he overheard one of them saying that it was her first time to be left on the table.
Joavan said he did not know that the women whom he was talking were with someone else. He was surprised when Aranas approached him with a sharp look.
Because of the look Aranas was giving him, Joavan told Aranas, “Kompiyasa-a nimo, wa ka kaila nako? (Don’t you know who I am?)
According to Joavan, Aranas told him, “Kaila. Guard. Ngano man diay?” (I know you, you’re the guard, why?)
Joavan admitted that he had some drinks before the confrontation and Aranas’ arrogance provoked him.
Meanwhile, Joavan also denied the allegation of Talisay City Traffic enforcer Marlorence Monreal that Joavan last Monday threatened to kill him.
Monreal had narrated that he chased a white BMW for beating a red light near a shopping mall in Barangay Tabunok when, instead of stopping, the driver tried to hit him and sped off.
He chased the vehicle towards Tabunok flyover where the vehicle stopped and Joavan emerged from the vehicle, threatening to have him fired or killed.
“Siya na lay daginuton nako, akong singko akong i-baylo og piso?” said Joavan.
Talisay City Police Station Chief Eddie Recamara said that Joavan’s case can be settled within the barangay level. –with Brenda D. Batuto of Banat News/JPM
(FREEMAN)