A Frenchman who was one of three foreigners who were shot in a McDonald’s outlet in Talisay City last Feb. 20 remains under police custody over a case filed by his estranged wife.
Julien Jerome Mathieu Maillard was ready to post bail of P24,000 for a case of violation of Republic Act 9262 or the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children (VAWC) Act of 2004 but the warrant served was only a photocopy.
“We have to secure an original copy from the trial court in Siquijor,” said.PO3 Rey Bucao of the Talisay City polic
Maillard was arrested by police while he was at the Talisay City Prosecutors’ Office last Tuesday.
Maillard and his Indian companion Cheten Saparaiya sustained gunshot wounds while German engineer Heinrich Haffner died after being shot by four men inside a McDonald’s outlet in barangay Tabunok, Talisay City.
Maillard was newly rddischarged from the hospital. When he went to the Talisay City Prosecutor’s Office for the filing of charges against four suspects, an arrest warrant was served to him,
Maillard was surprised to learn that his wife filed a case against him in Siquijor after they parted ways years ago.
He said he plans to go to Siquijor to resolve his differences with his wife before returning to Corsica, France.
“Ganahan ko ma-undang ang kaso kay wa man koy gihimo bisag unsa niya. Ganahan ko makig estorya niya, ganahan ko moadto sa Siquijor (I want to settle the case because I didn’t do anything to her. I want to talk to her, I want to go to Siquijor),” said Maillard who is fluent in Cebuano.
The warrant was issued by Regional Trial Court Branch 46 Judge Alejandro Bahonsua Jr. in Larena, Siquijor.
Siquijor police faxed a copy of the arrest warrant last Tuesday noon.
When told that he would be jailed with Allan Veloz, one of three men arrested for last Tuesday’s shooting, Maillard pleaded that he not be detained there lest he be killed.
Talisay City police has only one detention facility behind the Talisay City Hall, so the French national was allowed to stay in the jail’s recieving area.
The jail itself holds 15 detainees, including Veloz.
Separation
Maillard said his friends were helping him post bail.
He said he was married to his wife Vicentita in Larena, Siquijor for more than four years until they parted ways. They have no children.
Maillard said he learned that his wife sold their resort in Siquijor after their separation. He said he won’t make an issue out of it.
He said he didn’t abandon his estranged wife who is now with another man. Maillard has a girlfriend in Cebu.
Maillard sustained gunshot wounds on his left arm and legs while Saparaiya had a wound on his nape. Both foreigners survived.
Haffner sustained several gunshot wounds and died after being transferred to Chong Hua hospital in Cebu City.
Police filed charges of murder, two counts of frustrated murder, and illegal possession of firearms against Ricci Edwin Ramirez Jr., Allan Veloz, and Roger Cal at the Talisay City Prosecutors’ Office.
Dexci “Tata” Gomonte, the other assailant videotaped by the restaurant’s closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras, was also charged with murder and two counts of frustrated murder.