Joavan asks court: Lift arrest warrant

CEBU, Philippines - The controversial adopted son of Talisay City Mayor Socrates Fernandez yesterday asked for the lifting of the bench warrant that the Regional Trial Court has issued last week against him after he failed to attend the arraignment of his drug case.

Joavan Fernandez, through counsel George Bragat, cited “memory lapse” and other activities as reasons for his failure to attend the arraignment. He asked for the reinstatement of his P200,000 bail bond.

“The failure of Joavan on the said arraignment on June 16, 2011 was due to justifiable causes and circumstances and that his said absence did not materially impair the administration of justice,” the motion reads.

Bragat, who formally entered his appearance on June 21 as counsel for Joavan, blamed the bondsman for failure to remind his client of the scheduled arraignment. According to Bragat, Joavan was with the police conducting checkpoint in the morning of June 16.

They have attached a certification issued by Chief Inspector Eddie Recamara attesting to the fact that Joavan was with the police during that day. In fact, he has allegedly apprehended two motorcycles without registration and plate numbers during the said checkpoint. Joavan was named by his father as anti-crime czar of Talisay City.

RTC Judge Enriquita Belarmino ordered the arrest of Joavan and the cancellation of his bail bond after the latter failed to appear in the arraignment of his drug case last week.

Belarmino also ordered the bonding company to show cause why they should not be sanctioned for failing to bring Joavan for the arraignment.

The Cebu City Police has charged Joavan for illegal possession of drugs after 20 packs of shabu were recovered in his abandoned vehicle in Barangay Carreta last February.

The team led by Chief Inspector George Ylanan wanted to serve the warrant of arrest for malicious mischief against Joavan but he refused to stop when flagged down by policemen.

A chase ensued which ended up Joavan abandoning his vehicle in Carreta. —(FREEMAN)