Wednesday, October 08, 2008 (Philippines)

Talisay City Mayor Soc Fernandez and his son Joavan share a private moment with each other before the lockup. Is Talisay City safer with the arrest of the mayor’s son? Some residents thought so and publicly expressed their joy over the arrest. (Sunstar photo/Ruel Rosillo) TALISAY City Mayor Socrates Fernandez’s son Joavan was detained at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) overnight and then presented to Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 22 Judge Manuel Patalinghug yesterday morning. He was then turned over to the Talisay City Rehabilitation and Detention Center, where he will await trial on the serious illegal detention case against him and five others. Pre-trial is on the 23rd. He will be held without bail, unless the court gets convinced to rule otherwise after a bail motion and a hearing. [full story]