Ombud elevates probe on Joavan case

The Ombudsman-Visayas elevated to a formal probe the alleged misuse of a government vehicle issued to Talisay City Mayor Socrates Fernandez by a friend of his adopted son Joavan Fernandez.

The mayor has  to answer the charges for violating Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and an administrative charge for misconduct.

The case stemmed from a newspaper report that a  Toyota Revo issued to  the mayor  was used by Benedict Gabasa who was arrested by police in barangay Mabolo, Cebu City in 1991.

The  mayor claimed that he directed Gabasa to look for Joavan when he wasn’t home on Feb. 6, 2011.

The  unauthorized use of the  vehicle resulted in “undue wear and tear” and unwarranted consumption of fuel. The  vehicle was not used for “official purpose,” said the Ombudsman.

Drug paraphernalia found inside the car  also showed gross negligence on the mayor’s part, it said.

“The use of vehicle without the issued trip ticket and outside the ordinary route in the performance of official duty is prima facie evidence that the use thereof is illegal,” Blazo said.

Lawyer George Bragat yesterday expressed dismay over the failure of Joavan’s family to inform him on their plans to replace him as counsel.

Bragat went to the court for a hearings on the 2008 charges of serious illegal detention filed against Joavan.

The lawyer requested the court to reset the case so he can talk things over with Joavan’s family.

“I’m disturbed. I’ll try to straighten out things. There are media reports that they want me relieved as Joavan’s counsel. But they never contacted me about it,” Bragat told reporters.

The hearing before Regional Trial Court Judge Ester Veloso of Branch 6 was reset to Sept. 2.

Bragat  was earlier able to convince the court to release Joavan on bail for an illegal detention case in 2008.

Joavan was then charged with allegedly kidnapping and mauling two vulcanizing shop workers he accused of stealing his father’s spare tire.

RTC Judge Manuel Patalinghug, who first handled the case, approved bail citing weak evidence of the prosecution. Reporter Ador Vincent Mayol and UP-Cebu intern Apple Ta-as