PNP tags Joavan public enemy # 1

CEBU, Philippines - A day after bolting jail, Joavan Fernandez is now Cebu’s “public enemy number one,” according to the top official of the Police Regional Office-7.

“For the moment, we can consider Joavan Fernandez as public enemy number 1 in Cebu province. He has caused a lot of aches and problems in the province as well as in our functions as police force,” said PRO-7 director Marcelo Garbo, Jr.

Garbo ordered his men to conduct a province-wide operation to recapture the son of Talisay City Mayor Socrates Fernandez, saying Joavan is considered armed and dangerous.

“I believe we will do it with ease in as much as we were able to arrest him with ease also,” Garbo said.

He sought the community’s help to report on Joavan’s whereabouts.

Asked if he would issue a “shoot-to-kill” order against Joavan, Garbo said they have operational procedures that are guided with human rights.

The regional police director acknowledged the possibility that Joavan may engage police in a shootout.

He, however, said he cannot guarantee the safety of Joavan since “anything is possible” when he encounters the police.

Garbo said Joavan can surrender although he believed such idea is farfetched for the mayor’s son.

“He will fight it out. Tumakas siya eh, so he has his own objective or purpose. Sa mga ganung ugaling katauhan, alam natin na medyo drained na kanyang pag-iisip,” Garbo asserted.

The PRO-7 director tasked his men to look into whether Joavan was assisted in his escape, even if the investigation may include Mayor Fernandez.

“There are insinuations and reports that he has some assistance coming from other sources. We’re looking into that and investigation or appropriate charges will be filed to whoever gave assistance to his escape. Definitely kasama si Mayor if evidence points to that direction,” said Garbo.

Probe on jail guard

The Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) will investigate the guard at the Talisay City detention cell for any criminal and administrative liability over Joavan’s escape.

Sr. Supt. Patrocinio Comendador, CCPO director, said that PO2 Leandro Azarcon, jailer-on-duty, had lapses by letting in visitors beyond visiting hours.

Visiting hours at the detention cell are from 6:00a.m. to 9:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Azarcon reportedly allowed Joavan to go out of the cell to talk with his wife and four children, who visited him past 10:00 p.m., out of humanitarian reason.

A few minutes later, Azarcon noticed that Joavan and his family were no longer around, prompting him to call for assistance.

A witness said that Joavan boarded a green SUV with a government license plate.

Comendador ordered the Talisay City police to recapture Joavan but clarified that there was no “shoot-to-kill” order.

But he said if Joavan will resist, the police will be forced to use force through legal means.

He stressed that the police will still prioritize the election and the arrest of Joavan will come later.

“But if there is information about him then we will arrest him anytime,” Comendador said.

For his part, Supt. Elmer Lim, Talisay City police chief, expressed disappointment over Joavan’s escape, saying this is an additional problem of the police, especially during the time of election preparation.

“Mao bitaw nga gidalian nako ug dakop kay I know ma-busy mi sa election unya dili siya sayon dakpon, timing ang gikinahanglan,” Lim said.

Lim led the police in the arrest of Joavan on Monday, seizing a 9mm pistol with bullets and a hand grenade.

Charges for illegal possession of firearms, illegal possession of explosive and Comelec gun ban were already filed against Joavan.

Lim already had an idea that Joavan would escape since the case for illegal possession of explosive was non-bailable.

He encouraged the public to inform the police if they have information on Joavan’s whereabouts so they could arrest him as soon as possible.

For his part, Mayor Fernandez claimed that he did not know about Joavan’s escape, fearing that the police might hurt his son.

“Napuno ko sa kabalaka ug kahadlok mupauli na unta siya ug mutahan…wala koy mahimo igo ra gyud ko sa pagpatulo sa akong luha,” said the mayor, who was in Surigao for a religious activity.

Fernandez, who had a phone interview with reporters yesterday, said he cried after receiving reports that his son had escaped from jail.

Ombuds to probe escape

Deputy Ombudsman Pelagio Apostol said he will look into the issue surrounding Joavan’s escape using a government vehicle.

The vehicle was presumed to be owned by the Talisay City government.

“We will conduct an investigation based on newspaper clippings or if complaint will be filed before our office,” he said.

Apostol likewise said he will look into whether the jail guard had something to with Joavan’s escape.

Base on the report, Joavan’s wife Mayet together with their four kids visited him at the jail Wednesday evening. The detention cell is located on the ground floor of Talisay City Hall building.

Joavan allegedly begged Azarcon to give him a chance to hug his children, a request the jail guard had granted out of humanitarian reason and allowed Joavan out of the stockade.

But few minutes later, Joavan immediately ran to the car with plate number SJT-488 waiting outside the building, leaving behind his family.

The driver of the vehicle is reportedly a City Hall job order.

Reporters learned yesterday morning from Asaria Cañal, admin officer 3 of General Services Office (GSO) at the Talisay City Hall, that the car is one of the three service vehicles of the mayor.

Talisay City Vice Mayor Alan Bucao, chairman of the Committee on Peace and order, said that he is surprised by the incident.

Talisay City Councilor Danny Caballero said that Joavan’s escape is a big challenge to the police, hoping that authorities can solve the problem immediately.

According to Caballero, the council may investigate the use of the government vehicle and the involvement of a City Hall worker in Joavan’s escape.  – With Mylen Manto and Brenda D. Batuto/LPM