Talisay police chief seeks Joavan's rehab

CEBU, Philippines - Finally somebody is brave enough to petition the courts that the controversial Joavan Fernandez, who has been implicated in a series of crimes, undergo “compulsory rehabilitation.”

 The request, which was forwarded to the Talisay City Prosecutor’s Office last week, does not however mean that the subject person, Joavan, has a criminal liability, said petitioner Supt. Henry Biñas, chief of the Talisay City Police Station.

Biñas revealed this during a forum yesterday at the Sta. Teresa de Avila Shrine in barangay Poblacion.

 “I made a manifestation for his compulsory rehabilitation,” said Biñas, when asked by forum moderator Marlon Bellita of dyAB if the Talisaynons can still feel secure even if Joavan is still on the loose despite his many alleged criminal records.

 Joavan, the adopted son of Talisay City Mayor Socrates Fernandez, has been tagged for the murder of PUJ driver Panfilo Barinque in an alleged shooting spree in August 2006, which also hurt three others.

Two years later, two vulcanizing shop workers in barangay Tabunok charged him with two counts of serious illegal detention for allegedly mauling and detaining for allegedly stealing the spare tire of the mayor’s car.

He was jailed for the two criminal cases, but had posted bail.

Shortly after posting bail, Joavan again figured in a series of troubles like allegedly threatening to blow up a gasoline station, pointing a gun at pump attendants, and illegal possession of fire arms and drug paraphernalia, to name a few.

His latest brush with the law was another gun toting incident he allegedly committed after a road accident in barangay Pooc last month.

He also made the headlines recently when he allegedly used his father’s city-owned vehicle to transport food to a condominium in Cebu City where he was celebrating his 27th birthday.

It was also on that same night when members of the SWAT team were called after he told security guards, who asked him and his companions to leave the place, that he had friends with high-powered firearms who were coming over.

Last week, two pump boys of a gas station in barangay Bulacao alleged that Joavan hit and threatened them after they refused to refuel his car.

 Biñas explained that he cited RA 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 when he submitted his petition last week.

 Section 61 of RA 9165 (Compulsory Confinement of a Drug Dependent Who Refuses to Apply Under the Voluntary Submission Program) states that “any person determined and found to be dependent on dangerous drugs shall, upon petition by the Board or any of its authorized representative, be confined for treatment and rehabilitation in any Center duly designated or accredited for the purpose.”

 “A petition for the confinement of a person alleged to be dependent on dangerous drugs to a Center may be filed by any person authorized by the Board with the Regional Trial Court of the province or city where such person is found,” it added.

 For his part, Mayor Fernandez, who was also present in the forum, did not directly say that he approved of Biñas’ move.

He however told the audience that he believes in the courts, that unlike the people, they follow due process.

 Fernandez also said that Joavan has not been convicted in any of the charges leveled at him.

 “Sama ran a sa lapad nga panapton nga puti nga naay lama. Ang gamay ra nga lama ang makit-ad dili ang kalapad sa kapution sa maong panapton,” said the mayor.

 “Is it everyday that he is in trouble? Dili ngil-ad ug makalisang nga tawo si Joavan,” he added.

 The mayor also denied allegations that he paid Joavan’s victims so that they would withdraw the case.

 “Mahimong maliki ang yuta og lamyon ko, wala ko mamakak,” he said.

 He may not have admitted that Joavan is having problems, but he said he already had him undergo a Charismatic counseling and promised to continue defending his son.

“This is my trial, this is my cross. But I could not throw away my cross, I could not throw away my trials,” he said. — /NLQ , Staff Member