Police to file raps vs. Joavan today

CEBU, Philippines - Charges for illegal possession of firearms and ammunition and violation of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) gun ban will be filed today against Joavan Fernandez, the controversial adopted son of Talisay City Mayor Socrates Fernandez.

PO3 Eric Enad, an investigator of the Talisay City Police, said Joavan was not able to present to them documents that would prove he has the permit to carry the firearm.

The Comelec gun ban, which was declared starting January 9 is in effect until June 10. This is in relation to the conduct of the May 10 elections. The police recovered a .45 caliber pistol inside the vehicle Joavan was driving when he was arrested Friday afternoon.

Joavan was arrested after nurse Vincent Joe Castrodes complained that the suspect pointed a gun at him due to a traffic misunderstanding in barangay Bulacao.

The police found the gun along with two magazines loaded with ammunition inside the Isuzu Big Horn of Fernandez during a search that they conducted the other night.

Enad said they are now coordinating with the Provincial Investigation and Detective Management Branch (PIDMB) in gathering evidence against Mayor Fernandez, who reportedly took a bag from the vehicle while it was under police custody.

This is because Mayor Fernandez insisted to take out a bag from inside the vehicle while it was under police custody.

The mayor reportedly said that it was his vehicle and nobody can stop him from taking the bag that was left inside.

The police investigator said that they will work on the papers for the charges to be filed against Joavan first, but promised to look into any culpability of the mayor.

The gun was found past 11 pm last Saturday, hidden under a newspaper on the floor at the rear of the vehicle.

Mayor Fernandez skipped the search but sent one of his staff, Nito Fernandez as a representative.

Lawaan 3 Barangay Councilman Frederick Marababol and two tanods witnessed the search.

Joavan is now detained at the Talisay City police stockade.

The young Fernandez is also currently out on bail for another case.

Castrodes, who was driving a BMW with license plate number LEU-777, said that while he was heading south the red Isuzu Bighorn (YEZ-460) was coming out of the gate of Vista Grande Subdivision.

Since the Bighon suddenly blocked his way, Castodes, a resident of F. Llamas St., Cebu City, honked his horn, which apparently irked Joavan.

Castrodes said that the driver of the SUV, who he later identified as Joavan, got out of the vehicle then pointed a gun at him before retuning to his vehicle and speeding off.

The victim said that he rushed to the Talisay Ciy Police Station in Barangay Poblacion after the incident to report the matter.

A team of policemen was dispatched to look for Joavan and followed him to a repair shop in barangay Lawaan 3.

The other week, Joavan was accused by a security guard of pointing a gun at him inside the Vista Grande Subdivision when the suspect got mad at him when he called his attention about the noise bought about by his motorcycle. — /NLQ (THE FREEMAN)