Vehicle used by Joavan found

CEBU, Philippines - Around 6:30 p.m. last Thursday, a staff member of the Office of Talisay City Mayor Socrates Fernandez called the police to say that the green Mitsubishi Adventure Joavan Fernandez used during his escape last Wednesday evening was parked at a fastfood establishment in A.S. Fortuna St., Mandaue City.

The caller told the police that Mayor Soc was the one who told her to call the police to inform them of the vehicle’s location.

The Adventure belongs to the Talisay City Government and is the service vehicle of Mayor Soc.

The  police found the vehicle past 7:00 p.m.  SPO1 Mikie Espina said that the vehicle was parked in the area at around 11:00 a.m. that day.

Senior Inspector Alan Cuizon led the team that recovered the vehicle, accompanied by City Hall driver Job Narciso to indentify the vehicle.

Espina said it was confirmed that the recovered Adventure was the vehicle Joavan used in escaping.

Joan Vibar, head of the General Services Office (GSO), told reporters yesterday that they find it difficult to initiate an action against the mayor, who is their direct superior.

Meanwhile, Hazel Bathan, head of the Human Resource Office (HRO), told reporters yesterday that Joavan was a City Hall job order employee under the mayor.

Joavan rendered service from August 1, 2013 until April 30, 2013.

The driver who drove the Adventure during the escape was also a City Hall job order employee under the mayor. The said driver rendered service from July 16, 2012 to April 5, 2013.

Joavan and the driver were assigned under Themistocles Fernandez, the mayor’s brother.

The police refused to name the driver while the manhunt operation continues.

The Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) will look into the liabilities of those who helped Joavan escape.

“We will talk with (Supt. Elmer Lim, Talisay City police chief) regarding some matters for possible filing of case against those involved,” Sr. Supt. Patrocinio Comendador, CPPO director, said in a phone interview.

Comendador said they don’ want Joavan’s escape to disrupt their election preparations.

Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas Pelagio Apostol said he directed the acting director of public assistance and corruption prevention bureau, Atty. Carla Juris Tanco, to initiate the conduct of a fact-finding investigation against those who participated in the escape.

“Government officials or employees who participated in the escape should be investigated,” he said, adding that he will not allow this kind of irregularity.

He said newspaper clippings will be their basis for a fact-finding investigation.  If they find sufficient basis, he said the official or employees will face charges for gross misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the government. Brenda D. Batuto,  Mylen P. Manto and Ria Mae Y. Booc/JPM (FREEMAN)