Cebu City cops arrest Joavan for illegal drugs

CEBU, Philippines - The legal woes of Joavan Fernandez, the controversial adopted son of Talisay City Mayor Socrates Fernandez, seem to be piling up every week.

This as the Cebu City police arrested him in relation to an illegal drug case midday yesterday at the House of Prayer in Vista Grande, Talisay City.

He was able to post bail later yesterday using a surety bond for the amount of P200,000.

Joavan, who has been controversial because of his several brushes with the law, was arrested by virtue of warrant of arrest for possession of illegal drugs, a violation of the Republic Act 9165.

He was arrested by the CCPO’s Investigation and Detective Management Branch led by Chief Insp. George Ylanan and Insp. Genilo Veraque.

The team was armed with the warrant of arrest issued by Judge Enriqueta Loquillano-Belarmino of the Regional Trial Court branch 57.

The warrant stemmed from an incident early in February when he rammed a police vehicle driven by Ylanan and eluded arrest.

Joavan was allegedly trying to avoid being served a warrant of arrest for malicious mischief, a case filed after he hit another police vehicle in Talisay City last year.

Joavan was driving a Honda Civic with plate number YEH-323 when he hit IDMB’s vehicle, which prompted Ylanan to open fire.

Joavan sped off and his car was later found abandoned in an open space in sitio Negative, Barangay Carreta.

Ylanan said they found 20 sachets of shabu when they searched the car.

Ylanan said Judge Belarmino released the warrant of arrest at 10 am yesterday.

The IDMB then proceeded to places where Joavan could possibly be found until they found him at the House of Prayer.

Ylanan said that Joavan was with four women when they served the warrant and he did not resist arrest.

“He already knew us, so wa na siya mi-resist. Naka-regain na man og respetaray sa kaugalingon. Kahibaw na man siya nga og mudagan siya, gukdon ra gihapon siya,” Ylanan told reporters yesterday.

Last May 13, the IDMB arrested Joavan outside the Palace of Justice through the warrant of arrest issued by Judge Pamela Baring-Uy for direct assault.

Asked if they are picking on Joavan, Ylanan said they are only doing what is within the bounds of the law.

The CCPO, as of now, no longer has a pending warrant of arrest to be served against the mayor’s son, Ylanan said.

“Kay kadtong damage to property, nagbinayranay na man ngadto sa korte,” he said.

Joavan, for his part, said immediately after his arrest that he would post bail of P200,000.

He said he could not promise to change for the better after this recent arrest.

“Di jud ko kaingon kay naa baya’y mga storya-storya,” he said.

Joavan cited last Friday’s incident when he was intercepted by the Cebu City police after he was reported to be armed with a gun.

“Bisan wa baya jud ko gadala ato og armas,” he said yesterday.

In that incident, IDMB’s PO3 Cyril Valencia intercepted Joavan at B. Rodriguez St., barangay Sambag 2 after the police received reports that an armed man on board a red Isuzu Bighorn with a license plate that read “Mayor” in the front. The man inside turned out to be Joavan.

Joavan had his driver’s license confiscated after police later found that he had a traffic violation, but the vehicle was released and the allegations against him were not proven. –/NLQ (FREEMAN)