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聽 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聽 Toyota Revo issued to聽 the mayor聽 was used by Benedict Gabasa who was arrested by police in barangay Mabolo, Cebu City in 1991.
The聽 mayor claimed that he directed Gabasa to look for Joavan when he wasn鈥檛 home on Feb. 6, 2011.
The聽 unauthorized use of the聽 vehicle resulted in 鈥渦ndue wear and tear鈥� and unwarranted consumption of fuel. The聽 vehicle was not used for 鈥渙fficial purpose,鈥� said the Ombudsman.
Drug paraphernalia found inside the car聽 also showed gross negligence on the mayor鈥檚 part, it said.
鈥淭he 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,鈥� Blazo said.
Lawyer George Bragat yesterday expressed dismay over the failure of Joavan鈥檚 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鈥檚 family.
鈥淚鈥檓 disturbed. I鈥檒l try to straighten out things. There are media reports that they want me relieved as Joavan鈥檚 counsel. But they never contacted me about it,鈥� Bragat told reporters.
The hearing before Regional Trial Court Judge Ester Veloso of Branch 6 was reset to Sept. 2.
Bragat聽 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鈥檚 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