Police fail to arrest Joavan

CEBU, Philippines - The controversial adopted son of Talisay City Mayor Socrates Fernandez remains scot-free as police failed to arrest him when the latter served the warrant of arrest at his house in Friendly Homes Subd., Talisay City yesterday afternoon.

Elements of the Lapu-Lapu City Police Office in coordination with the Talisay City Police Office did not find Joavan in his house. Instead, the mayor’s wife, Jovita Fernandez, was the one who faced the police officers and told them that her son was not around. 

The team of policemen led by LLPO deputy director for operations Supt. Clifford Gairanod went to the house of Joavan at 1 p.m. to serve the warrant. But they have to pull out believing Joavan learned about their plan to arrest him and had already escaped even before they arrived.

SPO3 Cleofas Bonjoc Sr., desk officer of Talisay City Police said the new warrant was the offshoot of the recent case filed against Joavan at the Lapu-Lapu City Prosecutor’s Office for illegal possession of firearms and drugs.

Two months ago, Joavan and his four companions were intercepted by the Mobile Patrol Group for using a siren and violating the traffic near the Mactan-Cebu International Airport. During the search, police recovered a .38 revolver from Joavan along with the illegal drugs.

Fernandez’ four companions were Quazar Bacaltos Quiachon, 33, of Miami HMS, Talisay City; Alinor Mamao Andingan, 28, of Barangay Pajac, Lapu-Lapu City; Wilfredo Abellana Vega, 46, of Cansojong, Talisay City and Mark Ryan Alcover, 28. — Gabriel C. Bonjoc/WAB (THE FREEMAN)