‘Mayor Soc liable for use of Talisay gov’t vehicle’

A day after his escape from the Talisay police stockade, Joavan Fernandez remains at large.

Police said they believe he is still somewhere in Metro Cebu even as his adopted father Talisay mayor Socrates Fernandez remained tight-lipped on advice of his lawyer not to release any further statement.

Supt. Paul Labra of the Regional Intelligence Division said more checkpoints have been set up since Wednesday night’s escape but no surrender feelers have been received. Labra said there are indications that Joavan is still in Cebu, but he would not give details.

The getaway vehicle, a green Mitsubishi Adventure used by Joavan, has implicated his father since the SUV is a government vehicle under the mayor’s ioffice.

Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas Pelagio Apostol said his office would look into the liability of Mayor Fernandez based on news reports about the government vehicle.

Joavan was also a job order employee assigned at the motorpool supervised by Mayor Fernandez’s brother Thermetcoles Fernandez, according to the Talisay City Human Resources Department.

Joavan’s contract started August 1, 2012 and ended last April 30. Joavan is also assigned at the Vanguard’s eco watch team also headed by the mayor’s brother.

“Let’s look into what possible liabilities were committed. We’ll start with who has custody over the vehicle. If indeed a government vehicle was used in the escape that’s a serious accusation,” Apostol told reporters.

The policeman who let Joavan step out of his cell to greet his wife and children who visited him at 10:45 p.m. Wednesday has been relieved from his post.

“There may be infidelity in the custody of a prisoner or negligence involved,” Apostol said.

DILG-7 Legal Officer Ayesa Nogra said the misuse of a government car would point to the mayor.

“Definitely yes because that is unofficial use nortfor public purpose which is in violation of the government accounting and auditing manual,” she told Cebu Daily News.

But Nogra said a verified written complaint must be filed before the DILG can act on this.

Mayor Fernandez, who was in Surigao at the time of the escape, said he had no knowledge of his son’s plan to flee. In a radio interview, he appealed to Joavan to surrender and face the charges against him.

The van was found abandoned at a parking lot in Mandaue City Thursday evening.

Rosamie Narciso, the mayor’s secretary, said an informant called the mayor at 5 p.m. last Thursday, about spotting the car and the mayor sent his driver Job Narciso, Rosamie’s husband, to the site to verify it.

The vehicle is was taken to the Talisay City police station.

SPO1 Mikie Espina said another license plate was found inside the van which may have been used to avoid detection by authorities. The car keys were left in the ignition. Ador Vincente Mayol and Carmel Loise Matus with Correspondents Christine Emily L. Pantaleon and Gabriel C. Bonjoc and Reporter Jucell Marie P. Cuyos