Talisay Mayor's son flees after incident: Joavan's SUV hits patrol car

CEBU, Philippines – The Talisay City Police is now looking for Joavan Fernandez, the adopted son of the city mayor, who allegedly was driving the sports utility vehicle that rammed a police car Sunday night at the Laray junction of the Cebu South Coastal Road.

Fernandez, who has been involved in several controversies, reportedly fled the scene on board a green Mitsubishi Pajero bearing plate number GNZ-357 on the rear portion, but sporting a plate that says MAYOR on the front.

The SUV hit the right side of a Toyota Innova patrol car (SJV-955) of the Talisay City Police, which was driven by Insp. Diosdado Malazarte.

The others inside the patrol vehicle were identified as Sr. Insp. Ciriaco Larrobis, Insp. Jose Nilo Abello and two field training policemen.

Luckily, no one was hurt in the mishap.

Supt. Henry Biñas, chief of the city police said, the patrol car came from barangay Tabunok to pick up the two FTPs, who were to be deployed to barangay Cansojong.

The police vehicle reportedly stopped at the intersection so the driver could check for oncoming traffic when the SUV hit it.

The vehicle that Joavan was driving almost hit a motorcycle that was also traveling on the same road when it sped off after hitting the police car.

Biñas said his men did not know at first that it was Joavan at the wheel of the vehicle, but the son of Mayor Socrates Fernandez passed the policemen after the incident with the vehicle's windows open.

The police wanted to give chase after their vehicle was hit, but the engine failed to restart.

Biñas sent his men to look for Joavan after the incident, but did not find him at his residence inside Mansueto Compound in the city.

The police, however, found the green Pajero there with its left headlight broken and also with some damage on the front fender.

Biñas said that it took a while before they got the key of the vehicle and it was only after the police asked a towing company to tow the vehicle to the station that Mayor Fernandez came and handed the key.

The SUV is now in the custody of the police.

The police chief said that they were still looking for Joavan as of 6 p.m. yesterday and would charge him with malicious mischief and direct assault.

Biñas said the incident was more than a vehicular accident as the police car was not moving when it was hit.

Joavan may also be charged for using an unauthorized plate for putting the one bearing the word Mayor.

The younger Fernandez has been considered a "menace" in Talisay and is facing more than 10 cases in court.

This most recent brush with the law are however offenses where bail is allowed. -/NLQ (FREEMAN)