BARELY two years and five months after he and his wife survived an ambush, former Bacolod City councilor Ricardo "Cano" Tan made his first public appearance to announce that he "made it through the storm" after having been cleared from alleged illegal drug links.
An emotional Tan, who faced the media at their family-owned Campuestohan Highland Resort in Talisay City on Sunday, May 2, said justice has finally been served.
The former city official, in the presence of his lawyer, Andrei Normal Saril, presented a copy of the certification from the Police Regional Office (PRO)-Western Visayas clearing his name and that of his family from any links or participation to alleged illegal drug trade activities.
Former PRO-Western Visayas Director Brigadier General Rene Pamuspusan, in a certification obtained by the camp of Tan in August 2020, said: "Please be informed that as per report from the concerned offices under my jurisdiction, the information allegedly linking you and your family in the illegal drug trade has not been substantiated by a concrete evidence as of this date."
"Now, I can close this chapter of my life with one simple message. Yes, it is good to be back home. God is good all the time," he said, adding that "thank God I'm alive. Thank God for the truth! Finally, Justice! Yes, justice has been served."
In December 2018, Tan was ambushed along with his wife, Nita, in Barangay Alangilan, Bacolod City.
The couple was on board a Nissan Patrol on their way home when they were shot several times by at least three unidentified suspects.
Both were wounded, but survived the attack.
About a month after the ambush, President Rodrigo Duterte linked Tan in the illegal drug trade.
The President made this pronouncement during his speech before an audience at the birthday party of a local businessman on January 12, 2019.
In a related development, the President even told the media in Manila that Tan was the drug lord being protected by sacked Bacolod Police chief Senior Superintendent Francisco Ebreo.
Thanked Duterte
In Sunday’s press conference, Tan said Duterte was able to meet his wife and son in one of the President's visits in the city.
After the meeting, he said Duterte ordered various government agencies to conduct validation and revalidation of all accusations against him.
Tan said the certification issued by the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Western Visayas clearing him from any derogatory records was the result of the validation and revalidation ordered by the country's top official.
"Amo ina nga nagapasalamat gid ako sa aton President kag sa mga government agencies concerned sa pagbulig mapagwa ang kamatuoran [That is why I am really thankful to the President and concerned government agencies who helped in order the truth to prevail]," Tan said, adding that "that is official, that is final, my name is clean from all accusations against me."
'Victim of fake news'
The former councilor asserted that he was a victim of fake news, lies and deceit. "It destroyed my family. It ruined me," he said.
He said that prior to the ambush, a mediaman whom he did not name had been attacking him by reporting that the Campuestohan Highland Resort, particularly the King Kong figure, is a shabu laboratory.
Out of desperation to seek the truth, Tan said he invited the media and some personnel of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), PNP and Philippine Drug Enforcement Unit (PDEA) to visit the resort.
"There, they saw nothing. King Kong was acquitted," he said, adding that the issue against him that he is a drug lord is a "maranhig" issue as it only appears when the election is near.
For Tan, the accusation is a top of the line lie and high-end form of deceit.
"I suffered the greatest pain in my life. The pain of being separated from my family and the pain of being wrongfully judged," he said, stressing that "I am not a drug lord and never had been a drug lord."
Tan said he surrendered everything to God including his resentment towards those who spread false information against him.
"God really made a way for me and my family. A way towards peace of mind by giving me justice and truth. Yes, truth has set me free. Justice made my shattered life whole again," he added.
Still fear for his life
It can be recalled that a year after he and his wife were ambushed, the former's elder brother, Roberto "Kaisek" Lo Tan, a businessman, was gunned down by unidentified assailants on a motorcycle.
This further spurred fear to the family, thus they were not seen in public for over two years.
Tan said despite being cleared by authorities from alleged involvement in the illegal drugs, he still fears for his life and that of his family.
Tan, on the sidelines of the press conference, told SunStar Bacolod that "my life will never be the same again" so they will continue to take necessary precautions "as we cannot be complacent."
His lawyer said they still do not have any idea as to who was responsible for the ambush.
Saril said the family was hopeful that a full-blown investigation should have been conducted at that time, but it was the family's decision that their safety should come first.
"So instead of focusing on the investigation, we focused on the safety of the family so we really did not dwell much on the investigation as to who exactly behind the ambush," he added.
'No plans for politics'
The former councilor also dismissed claims that he will run in the 2022 elections.
Amid questions if he will go back to politics, Tan said "public service is in my blood. I want to serve our people from the platform of good governance. Yes, I want to serve our people."
"But for now, I don't have any plans for politics. I have done my share for the people of Bacolod and the city that has given me so much," he said.
He said that for now, he would rather focus his time to his family and businesses.
Living under fear of sleepless nights and constant uncertainty for a long time, Tan said: "I am now happy to go back to my normal life and to be with my grandchildren again, face our employees and and entertain friends in the safe comfort of our home."