Joavan faces arrest anew

The oft-arrested Joavan Fernandez is facing yet another arrest.

Regional Trial Court Judge Enriqueta Belarmino of Branch 57 yesterday issued a warrant for Fernandez’s arrest after the adopted son of Talisay City Mayor Socrates Fernandez failed to attend his arraignment and pretrial conference in relation to drug charges he is facing.

The court also ordered the forfeiture of Joavan’s bail bond in favor of the state.

The judge ordered the Philippine Phoenix Surety and Insurance Inc. to bring Fernandez to the court within 30 days and explain why it should not be sanctioned.

In a phone interview, Joavan said he was unaware of the court proceedings.

Joavan said he attended an anti-illegal drug event conducted by the Philippine National Police yesterday.

Mayor Fernandez said the notice they received from the court is for Joavan to attend the proceedings on July 22.

Joavan’s lawyer George Bragat also failed to show up.

The arrest warrant was issued at 2:45 p.m.

The judge said Joavan was notified about the scheduled arraignment and pretrial conference yesterday.

Joavan is facing charges for possession of illegal drugs after police recovered 20 plastic sachets or 1.29 grams of shabu in a Honda Civic that he 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, head of the Investigation and Detection Management Branch (IDMB).

Joavan was later arrested by police but he posted a surety bond to satisfy the P200,000 bail recommended by the Cebu City Prosecutors’ Office.