CEBU, Philippines - Two months after he was detained at the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center, Joavan Fernandez, the controversial adopted son of former Talisay City mayor and incumbent councilor Socrates Fernandez, has accumulated a debt amounting to P140,000 at the jail’s canteen.
Jail guard Romeo Manansala told the media that Joavan accumulated the debt after he encouraged prisoners to get food and cigarettes in the canteen and have them charged under his tab.
The canteen is run by the inmates using their own money.
“Amo na siya giingnan nga ayaw pag ing-ana kay kahibalo ka nga kun unsa ang parusa sa council, if dili makabayad sa utang, patakalan ginamit ang usa ka kahoy… aside from that naa say policy ang canteen nga 10 percent ang tubo sa utang kada semana,†he said, adding that this practice was agreed to by the inmates a long time ago.
However, he added “if grabe na ang pagkabunal mo-intervene na mi.â€
He also said Joavan assured them he can pay his debt. He has already settled P30,000 out of P140,000.
It was May 22 when Joavan was transferred to the CPDRC. Joavan has a non-bailable offense filed before the Regional Trial Court for illegal possession of explosives.
Judge Soliver Peras issued three arrested warrants against Joavan for illegal possession of firearms, illegal possession of explosives and a violation of Commission on Election gun ban. He was arrested by the elements of Talisay City Police last May 6 by virtue of a bench warrant issued by Judge Mario Manayon of the Municipal Trial Court in Cities.
Joavan failed to attend his hearing for slight physical injury prompting Manayon to order his arrest. He was served with the warrant at his father’s house at Southgates Subdivision in Barangay Bulacao.
During his arrest, the police recovered a 9mm pistol and a hand grenade. (FREEMAN)