City police chief offers to mentor Joavan

CEBU, Philippines - If being tough on him won’t change Joavan Fernandez, maybe mentoring will.

Sr. Supt. Melvin Ramon Buenafe, director of the Cebu City Police Office, has offered to be the mentor of the controversial adopted son of Talisay City Mayor Socrates Fernandez.

Buenafe made the commitment, not to Joavan, but to the city mayor, who he talked with over the phone.

“I commit to become his mentor, big brother, and role model. Commitment nako na tabangan nako siya mag-reform,” Buenafe told Mayor Fernandez over the phone yesterday.

Joavan, who has been controversial because of his several brushes with the law, was arrested by the CCPO for the second time in two weeks last Tuesday by virtue of a warrant of arrest for alleged possession of illegal drugs.

After his arrest, he was brought and presented before the CCPO director where they talked about his latest case.

“Nagkasabot ming duha parte sa church activities na amo unyang pagahimuon, and about enhancing his feeding programs.

 “Mi-commit siya. He will join in the church activities. Mi-agree mi na maging visible sa mga church activities (in Talisay),” Buenafe said.

Buenafe further told reporters yesterday that they are going to conduct activities that will help reform the younger Fernandez.

He said they will start with the Mass on Sunday wherein Joavan agreed to do the first reading.

“I told him that you are at the right age already to make a big change in your life,” Buenafe said.

Yesterday, the CCPO director talked with Mayor Fernandez for the reconfirmation of Joavan to the activity and for the mayor himself to choose and arrange for the church where they would attend Mass.

Buenafe said he would also then join Joavan walk the aisle during the offertory.

Buenafe further told Mayor Fernandez that the several incidents involving his son “will all come to pass.”

“I told the media that you’ve been featuring him as bad boy, now let’s feature him as a reformed person who will take the symbol of reformation of Talisay City.

“It will be a big twist nga storya sa imong pinalanggang bata,” Buenafe also told the mayor.

“I told him (Joavan) na you’re popular, so pwede na ka mudagan sa eleksyon sa 2013,” Buenafe told reporters.

“If ato siya pasagdaan, sayang because he has a lot of potential, number one kay popular siya. Naa sad siya’s self-respect maong mu-pronounce siya na gihimu-himoan siya ug storya,” the CCPO director added.

Joavan is currently out on bail.

CCPO’s Investigation and Detective Management Branch arrested him midday last Tuesday at the House of Prayer in Vista Grande, Lawaan I, Talisay City.

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

The warrant stemmed from an incident last February when he rammed a police vehicle and eluded arrest. His car was later found abandoned in Barangay Carreta, this city, where police reportedly found 20 sachets of shabu. — /NLQ (FREEMAN)