Wednesday, October 15, 2008 Joavan positive for drug use; 3 charges filed
THREE more charges that stemmed from his Oct. 6 arrest were filed yesterday against Joavan Fernandez before the Talisay City Prosecutor’s Office.
The charges—illegal drug use, illegal possession of drug paraphernalia and of ammunition — were file immediately after the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) 7 received confirmation of an earlier drug test performed on Joavan.
“Laboratory examination conducted in the specimen gave positive results for the presence of metamphetamine and its metabolite amphetamine,” read the toxicology report of NBI 7 forensic chemist Rommel Paglinawan.
Metamphetamine is more popularly known as shabu.
The report was subsequently approved by NBI 7 Director Medardo de Lemos and completed the agency’s investigation of Joavan’s alleged illegal drug use.
Joavan is the adopted son of Talisay City Mayor Socrates Fernandez.
About 60 ml of Joavan’s urine was subjected to the toxicology test to determine the presence of dangerous drugs.
Arrest
Joavan underwent drug testing immediately after he was arrested at a massage parlor in Baragay Tabunok last Oct. 6. His urine was found positive for drugs but a confirmatory test was needed to determine what drug was in it.
The confirmation only came yesterday.
These charges stemmed from the NBI’s arrest of Joavan for the serious illegal detention case he is facing for the alleged abduction and manhandling of two vulcanizing shop workers last Aug. 11. Five others were impleaded in the case.
Joavan allegedly led the snatching and mauling of Abellana cousins Winston, 18, and Josbert, 21 over a lost spare tire.
During the arrest, authorities also searched Joavan’s personal vehicle, where they found a rosary, some ammunition and magazines for a pistol and a submachine gun, and drug paraphernalia—a tinfoil and a tooter. No firearm or illegal drug, however, was recovered.
The NBI 7 earlier obtained a certificate from the Firearms, Explosives, Security Agencies and Guards Supervisory Section 7 signed by its head, Chief Insp. Jacinto Cesar, as evidence for the complaint for illegal possession of ammunition under Republic Act 8294.
It stated that Joavan does not own a licensed firearm and is not allowed to keep ammunition.
The confirmatory test, on the other hand, paved the way for the filing of two complaints against Joavan for violation of Sections 12 and 15 of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. (JGA)
