Joavan’s arraignment reset

CEBU, Philippines - Judge Soliver Peras of Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 10 has reset the scheduled arraignment of Joavan, the son of Talisay City Mayor Socrates Fernandez tagged as Cebu’s most wanted, due to the unavailability of his counsel.

As that developed, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) strengthens manhunt operations against the country’s most wanted criminals through a workshop-seminar on Search, Tracking and Manhunt Operations.

Joavan was indicted for illegal possession of firearms, illegal possession of explosives and a violation of Commission on Election (Comelec) gun ban. 

On May 6, 2013, Joavan was arrested by the Talisay City Police in Barangay Bulacao by virtue of a bench warrant issued by MTCC Judge Mario Manayon for his failure to attend hearing for physical injury case. During the arrest, the Talisay City Police recovered from him a 9mm pistol with four bullets and a hand grenade.

But Joavan escaped from the Talisay City jail cell the night before he was to be taken to the Palace of Justice for the filing of three cases.

Wearing the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC) orange uniform, Joavan stood in front of Peras and informed him that his counsel Paulino Labrado has another appointment in RTC Barili.

Joavan asked for the resetting of his arraignment.

State Prosecutor Raul Cristoria for the prosecution told the court that he sees no reason that the accused moved for the resetting but he respects the rights of the accused to have a counsel of his own choice. He allowed the resetting of the arraignment.

Peras moved the arraignment on May 31, 2013.

Joavan arrived in the Palace of Justice at 8:30 a.m. escorted by the CPDRC jail guards.This is the first time Joavan is detained at the CPDRC. He was unable to post bail because of the illegal possession of explosives complaint he is facing which is a non-bailable offense.

As for the CIDG, its one-day seminar aims to pursue the objective of the CIDG’s Oplan Pagtugis, a flagship project intended to launch manhunt operations through a comprehensive and integrated system in the arrest of regional and national fugitives.

The first league of the seminar was held in Manila last April.

The one in Cebu City is attended by the CIDG personnel of Regions 6, 7, 8, and 9. The next will be in Davao City on June.

Chief Supt. Francisco Uyami Jr., CIDG director, said they will enhance their personnel’s skills in search, track and manhunt of fugitives especially those who are involved in heinous crimes.

“Kailangan kasi nang kakaibang kakayahan ang kapulisan para mahanap ang mga ito kasi ‘yung involved sa heinous crimes ay magaling magtago,” Uyami said in an interview.

In the top five most wanted in the nationwide level is Ret. Gen. Jovito Palparan who is facing charges of kidnapping for the disappearance of students Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeño in 2006.

Activists call him “the butcher” for his alleged human rights abuses.

Also, former Palawan governor Joel Reyes and his brother Coron town Mayor Mario Reyes who are not yet off the hook in the 2011 killing of broadcaster Gerry Ortega are in the list.

Another is, Ruben Ecleo Jr. who was convicted for murdering his wife, Alona Bacolod-Ecleo. He was accused of strangling his wife to death.  Alona Ecleo’s body was found decomposing in a ravine in January 2002. (FREEMAN)