Bacolod City Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran said yesterday Councilor Ricardo “Cano” Tan is still on official leave.
Familiaran said based on his being a councilor, Tan will not be able to exhaust all his leave (credits) if he goes on leave until his term ends this June.
The vice mayor quoted the Human Resource Management Office (HRMO), saying councilors are only allowed to report every session day, which is once a week.
At the same time, he said in a live interview yesterday morning over RMN DYHB Bacolod with commentator-anchormen Jeony Bigay and Serge Santillan, the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) does not have a rule on how many times an SP member is allowed to be absent in the sessions. He hinted that it is a case to case basis.
Tan’s case calls for his safety, Familiaran said, adding that he believes that Tan, the Number 1 councilor in the 2016 election, is still in the country “because his original signature was needed for his leave (forms) and other papers which he has signed lately”.
Although he said he believes that Cano Tan is still in the country, there are also reports that he is already abroad with his wife.
He also hinted that the councilor can still serve his constituents through his staff without his presence.
In the same interview over “Straight to the Point” program of Bigay and Santillan, Familiaran wants Tan to be safe and to seek audience with President Duterte.
The vice mayor said, Tan’s staff and supporters can get support from him, saying “we are just here to help”.
AMBUSHED.
Cano and Nita were on their way home from the family-owned Campuestohan Highland Resort in Talisay City at about 5:40 p.m. when unidentified assailants fired on their cruising Nissan Patrol vehicle on December 14, 2018.
The presence of mind of Tan, who was driving their car, subsequently saved their lives.
They also reportedly played dead.
They only sustained abrasions. They were treated at the Dr. Pablo O. Torre Memorial Hospital.
Until now the motive and identify of the suspects are unknown.
Scene of the crime investigators led by Chief Insp. West Codilla recovered more than 20 bullet shells of caliber 5.56 rifle and several others for caliber .45 pistol.
Bullet holes were found on the windshield, driver’s side, and the rear of the vehicle.
The assailants ambushed the couple while their vehicle was cruising along Purok Tagaytay.
Tan drove to Bacolod Police Station 5 in neighboring Barangay Granada where they sought police assistance before proceeding to the hospital.
The ambushers were reportedly on board two vehicles and fled towards Barangay Concepcion in Talisay City.
Tan, who has other businesses other than the resort, withdrew his plan to run for mayor of Bacolod in the May 2019 election.
Councilor Tan, for several times have presented to the media official documents from concerned agencies clearing him from any involvement in illegal drugs.
Every election season, his name is being floated to be involved in illegal drugs, to which he called as unfounded, lies, and just meant to discredit and destroy his good name.* (Arman P. Toga (NDB), Photo by Carla Canet)