For hitting patrol car: Police sue Joavan; readies complaint for "Mayor" plate

CEBU, Philippines – Joavan Fernandez is facing yet two more criminal cases, this time for malicious mischief and direct assault after he allegedly rammed his sports utility vehicle intentionally into a patrol car last Sunday.

The Talisay City Police filed cases against the controversial son of Mayor Socrates Fernandez before the Talisay City Prosecutor's Office yesterday afternoon.

The green Pajero is now under police custody, but authorities are still looking for Joavan who reportedly fled the scene after hitting the right side of the Toyota Innova patrol car with SJV-955 of the Talisay City Police, which was driven by Insp. Diosdado Malazarte.

Police recovered the vehicle from Joavan's house in Mansueto Sudivision in Barangay Tabunok. The green Pajero has a plate number GNZ-357 on the rear portion, but bears a plate that says MAYOR on the front. The vehicle's left headlight was broken and a portion of its front had dents.

Joavan was not at the house at that time and it was no less than the mayor who handed over the car key to the police after Biñas threatened to have the vehicle towed if the key would not be found.

Talisay police chief Supt. Henry Biñas said it is now up to the court to issue a warrant for Fernandez' arrest. Fernandez, however, may still post bail for the two cases.

Biñas said they will also file a separate complaint against Joavan for using an un-authorized MAYOR plate.

Senior Insp. Ciriaco Larrobis, Inspectors Jose Nilo Abello and Diosdado Malazarte, and the two field training personnel who were on board the patrol during the incident filed their sworn statements together with photos of the two damaged vehicles before the fiscal's office.

They said they were at the Cebu South Coastal Road-Rabaya St. intersection on their way to barangay Cansojong when an SUV, which was coming from Cebu City, hit the right side of their vehicle. The three police officers were able to identify Fernandez as SUV's window was reportedly open at that time.

No one was hurt in the incident, but damage is pegged at P83,000. The patrol car was donated by the Talisay City government.

Provincial Police Director Senior Supt. Erson Digal himself directed Biñas to pursue the cases and said what happened was a sign of disrespect to authorities and the taxpayers of Talisay City.

Still, the mayor insisted his son did not intend to hit the police car and that the Pajero's brakes just malfunctioned that night. (FREEMAN)