BACOLOD City Acting Mayor El Cid Familiaran said Sunday, January 20, that the City Council has no grounds to complain about the leave of absence of Councilor Ricardo “Cano” Tan from their regular sessions since December 18.

Familiaran said Tan is allowed to file a sick leave of 15 days and another 15 days for a vacation leave.

He said civil servants can even file a leave for six months.

Tan has not attended the regular session of the City Council a week after he was ambushed, along with his wife in Barangay Alangilan on December 14. The couple was unharmed but their car was riddled with bullets.

Familiaran said Tan, through his staff, would just file a leave every regular session.

He’s been on leave after the attempt on his life, Familiaran said, adding that Tan has used four days out of his one month leave credits.

Familiaran said Tan has not contacted them since he was on leave. It was just his staff who give updates to the council about his leave of absence.

Joy Maredith Madayag, director of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)- Bacolod, said the sanction, if necessary, against Tan is up to the City Council.

They will discuss based on the internal rules if there is a need to sanction Tan, but the role of the DILG is to just give an advise in case there is a complaint against the councilor.

In response, Familiaran said there is no reason to sanction Tan because it is his right to file a leave.

Tan has been identified by President Rodrigo Duterte as a high-value target ranked fourth in his watchlist during his visit in Bacolod City to attend a birthday party on January 12.

Tan was previously implicated in illegal drugs but he denied the allegations.

The councilor has yet to issue a statement against the accusations of the President against him.