Joavan pleads ‘not guilty’ to drug charge

JOAVAN Fernandez pleaded not guilty to charges of possession of illegal drugs during arraignment yesterday.

The adopted son of Talisay City Mayor Socrates Fernandez denied the accusations against him in a case filed before Regional Trial Court Judge Enriquita Belarmino of Branch 57.

His lawyer George Bragat said four witnesses will be presented in Joavan’s defense.

The prosecution said it has three witnesses to support the criminal charges.

The judge earlier issued an arrest warrant against Joavan for failing to appear in a scheduled arraignment and pre-trial conference last June 16.

The judge later lifted the warrant after Joavan sought the court’s reconsideration.

The drug charges stem from the discovery by policemen of 20 plastic sachets or 1.29 grams of shabu in a Honda Civic that Joavan drove last Feb. 6.

The car was abandoned by Joavan in barangay Carreta, Cebu City, after he rammed the vehicle into a police car driven by Chief Insp. George Ylanan.

Joavan was later arrested by police.

He was released after posting a surety bond to satisfy bail set at P200,000.  REPORTER ADOR VINCENT S. MAYOL