Charges of carnapping and usurpation of authority were filed yesterday against Joavan Fernandez and two others for the confiscation of a truck carrying sand and gravel in barangay Lagtang, Talisay City last Friday.
Businessman Julius Abad said he filed the charges against Talisay City Mayor Socrates Fernandez’s adopted son and his companions Jeffrey Sy and Benedict Gabasa, even as he appealed to haulers who are similarly aggrieved to do the same.
Abad said he won’t agree to an out of court settlement because this was the second time the mayor’s son impounded his truck. The truck was later released by the police on orders of the mayor after Abad presented documents for it.
Mayor Fernandez earlier defended his son saying Joavan was a member of the Vanguard or local enforcer of environment laws deputized by the Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources.
However, the DENR’s Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) said they stopped deputizing citizens in September 2011 on orders of President Aquino in an amendment of Executive Order 79.
MGB-7 legal officer Gerardo Mahusay said Talisay City has its own ordinance to deal with illegal sand and gravel hauling.
Mahusay said illegal quarrying takes place in Jaclupan, Camp 3 and Camp 4 in Talisay City, as well as in parts of Toledo City.
He said Talisay city is considered an entry point of illegal mining activities but that local governments are not coordinating with the DENR.
The truck stopped by Joavan 6:30 p.m. last Friday cames from Toledo City.
Joavan had brushes with the law since 2006, first when he was charged for a drive-by shooting that killed a jeepney driver. He was also accused with mauling two vulcanizing shop workers in Talisay City. With Correspondent Tweeny M. Malinao