Mayor’s son tagged Cebu ‘public enemy No. 1’

JOAVAN FERNANDEZ

CEBU CITY—The son of Talisay City Mayor Socrates Fernandez has been declared public enemy No. 1 after he escaped from the city police detention cell on Wednesday, three days after he was arrested for illegal possession of explosives and firearms.

Chief Supt. Marcelo Garbo, Central Visayas police chief, said the mayor would also be investigated after his son was found to have used one of the mayor’s service vehicle during his escape.

Joavan Fernandez escaped at past 10 p.m. on Wednesday when a policeman, PO2 Leandro Azarcon, agreed to let him out of the cell to meet with his live-in partner, Mayet, and their children, who went to visit Joavan.

SPO1 Mike Espina of the Talisay City police said as soon as Joavan was let out of his cell, he ran to Talisay City Hall and boarded a green Mitsubishi Adventure van.

Two guards at the city hall failed to stop Joavan.

Supt. Elmer Lim, also of the Talisay City police, quoted one witness as saying the vehicle used for the escape bore a red license plate for government-issued vehicles.

Joavan had been arrested earlier in his father’s house in Southgate Subdivision in Barangay Bulacao on Monday.

During the arrest, Joavan was found in possession of a grenade and revolver. Police filed charges of illegal possession of explosives against the mayor’s son, a nonbailable offense.

Joavan was supposed to be transferred to another detention facility on Thursday.