Liga prexy assails talks of foul play on death of top aide

By Florence F. Hibionada
Correspondent

Board Member Angelo Briones, president of the Liga ng mga Barangay in the province assailed talks of foul play on the death of his top aide and close-in security.

The victim, John Fernandez fell on a single bullet of his own service firearm inside the house of the board member Monday afternoon. A distraught Briones spoke to reporters and said that his longtime buddy and trusted man of over 16 years was a victim of a freak accident while playing with his Super .38 caliber revolver. Such, he later said in a The News Today interview, was aggravated by the alcohol intake of Fernandez who was known to be light drinker.

With police investigation conducted and autopsy results out on the victim's body, Briones came out to clarify and refute impressions made that raised questions on the shooting. The 46 year-old victim succumbed to a gunshot wound in the head in an incident that shocked four others who were with him that time. To dispel heightened rumours of an outside shooter, the board member facilitated the paraffin testing of the four last Tuesday. The results have yet to be known.

"I am angered by the insinuations and unfair accusations. My family is devastated, his (victim) family is devastated, we are all still in shock and then we hear those talks. Will I actually allow somebody to enter my house and kill my trusted man? My bosom buddy?," Briones lamented. "It was an accident that nobody especially me wanted. Unfortunately, he violated the two cardinal rules of gun safety, he failed to treat his gun as if it is loaded - don't point to anybody or anything unless you want to shoot. Up to now, I can't understand why of all places, he did so on his head. But again we have this unfortunate accident so I am just trying to cope really and help the family."

Briones also derided the rural physician of his hometown Ajuy for the autopsy findings and corresponding observations which the Liga president said was totally off from the actual accounts of the witnesses.

"It was opposite from what happened and those present could testify on it. Our rural physician is not an expert witness so why the speculations?," he added.

Monday's fatal shooting was apparently a follow-up of Sunday's similar action from Fernandez who was also seen playing with his service firearm. Insiders told The News Today how he would make attempts in the past to do an' FPJ style' of cocking his gun by his leg.

"The lesson in all this is that gun and liquor never mix. No matter how good you are, you will loose your presence of mind," Briones ended who further shared his sorrow when approached by the 6 year-old daughter of his fallen friend, " indi na si papa kabakal sang eraser ko? (Papa can not buy me my eraser then?)" was her innocent question moments after the shooting.

Fernandez is survived by his wife and five children, the youngest is aged 8 months old. Briones said all will be aided on their education.