Joavan says he didn't get subpoena for arraignment

CEBU, Philippines - Joavan Fernandez yesterday denied he intended not to attend the arraignment of his illegal drug case Thursday morning, saying he had not received a copy of the subpoena from the court.

The adopted son of the Talisay City mayor said he was surprised when a reporter asked for his comment on his missing the arraignment as he had no idea about it.

For failing to attend his arraignment, Regional Trial Court Judge 57 Judge Enriqueta Belarmino issued a bench warrant against Joavan and ordered for the cancellation of his P200,000 bail bond.

Joavan however said his lawyer George Bragat is set to file a reply on the court order.

The Cebu City Police Office has filed the illegal drug case against the son of Mayor Socrates Fernandez after 20 packs of shabu were recovered from his abandoned vehicle in Barangay Carreta in February.

A team of policemen led by Chief Insp. George Ylanan conducted a checkpoint on February 6 to serve a warrant of arrest for malicious mischief against him when the latter refused to stop when flagged down.

Joavan said he was with Chief Insp. Eddie Recamara and his men conducting a checkpoint on traffic violators the day he was supposed to attend his arraignment.

He said his father used to call him two days ahead before any transaction with the court, but he was not informed by the mayor or even by lawyer as they had no idea about the arraignment.

“Wala ko’y intensyon na dili motunga. Wala pa na sa history nako mahitabo nga wala ko mitunga labi na sa arraignment,” the younger Fernandez said.

Joavan said he will be asking apology from the court about his failure to attend the court event and ask to be given a chance to post bail.

“If i-cancel nila ang akong bail, mura ra sad ta og gikumbikto ana, mura’g wa’y hustisya,” he further said.

At his father’s “House of Prayer,” where reporters interviewed him yesterday, two notes about his court hearings were posted on the wall.

There written was his court hearing at the Lapu-Lapu Regional Trial Court last June 10 and in Cebu City on June 17 and June 29. There was no June 16, the day he missed the arraignment.

Nevertheless, Joavan said he won’t resist arrest or hide if the court issues a warrant of arrest against him. — (FREEMAN)