Seized with gun, grenade: Joavan arrested in dad’s house

CEBU, Philippines - After a month-long surveillance, Talisay police finally arrested Joavan Fernandez, the notorious and controversial adopted son of Talisay City Mayor Socrates Fernandez, in the mayor's house in Southgates, Barangay Bulacao, Talisay City, around 7 p.m.

Talisay City police chief Supt. Elmer Lim, who personally came to arrest Joavan, said they knew where he was hiding all this time. He said it was just a matter of determining the best time to get him, specifically when Mayor Socrates Fernandez would not be around to intervene.

“Sakripisyo ni siya sa akong kinabuhi… Makatulog na gyud intawn ko,” Lim said in a phone interview.

Lim was armed with an arrest warrant signed by Municipal Trial Court Judge Mario Manayon. The warrant was for a physical injury case filed against Joavan some time ago.

Lim told The FREEMAN they have been conducting surveillance for about a month against Joavan just to arrest him following orders from Cebu Provincial Police Office Director Patrocinio Comendador.

Police already knew that Joavan was being kept by the mayor in his house and they were just waiting for the right time to arrest him. The mayor was not around when police carried out the operation.

Lim said Joavan did not resist arrest as Lim covered him with his 9mm pistol. Confiscated from Joavan was a 9mm pistol with four live rounds and a hand grenade.

“Aw, ug musukol siya pusilon man gyud nako,” Lim said.

Joavan is now detained at the Talisay City police stockade.

Lim said he was dismayed by the protection given by the mayor to Joavan. He said that they expected the mayor to cooperate but instead of heeding their advice, Socrates hid his son from the police.

“Di gyud ni siya angayan makadaug bisan mayor o konsehal kay nganong motago man siya og tao nga kriminal," Lim said.

He added that if Socrates had been around and tried to stop them from arresting Joavan he would have probably arrested him for obstruction of justice./BRP (FREEMAN)