BY MATÈ ESPINA
BARRY Manillow’s “I made it through the rain” became the theme song of former Bacolod City councilor Ricardo “Cano” Tan at his press conference over the weekend, declaring himself cleared of any links to the illegal drug trade.
Cano disappeared from the public’s view for over two years after President Rodrigo Duterte tagged him as an alleged drug personality.
A very emotional Cano said he is thankful to God that he is alive and “cleared” of any links to drugs. And I can imagine how, as others who were publicly vilified by the president either didn’t make it alive or are still in hiding.
Cano was a popular politician in this city that topped the councilor race in 2016. Although he was part of Mayor Bing Leonardia’s party, he had an independent mind and became a vocal opposition towards the end of his term.
In December 2018, Cano and his wife, Nita, survived an ambush and thereafter took a leave from public office. A month later, Duterte who was in Bacolod to attend the birthday celebration of a businessman, publicly announced Cano’s alleged links to illegal drugs as per intelligence report from PDEA.
In that same event, the president sacked the city’s chief of police, Col. Francisco Ebreo along with four other officials for allegedly coddling a drug lord, alluding to the councilor. Ebreo’s fault was visiting the ambushed city official and leaving detailed security while investigation was ongoing.
Geez! Ebreo would naturally visit a top official especially since the ambush happened in his jurisdiction. The fact that he left detailed security was part of protocol since Cano and Nita were not protected at all when the ambushed happened.
“In December 2018, my world crumbled! And in January 2019, my world was completely shattered. That time, I thought it was already the end of everything,” he said.
Cano is a family friend and stood as sponsor at my brother’s wedding. He is soft-spoken and was quite popular with the masses. There were rumors that he was framed after he became a threat to the administration for the 2019 election. I was quite vocal with the unjust public vilification of Cano then. But nothing surprises me anymore with this president.
Cano recounted that his wife and son actually sat down with the president to plead his case and to wit, the president ordered the validation and re-validation of allegations against him.
Of course damage has been done and with killings happening left and right in this city, Cano fled and went into hiding. That same year that he was publicly attacked by the President, Cano’s brother, Kaishek, was also gunned down by unknown assailants which has remained unsolved like many other killings.
There were sightings of Cano in the US and other parts of Asia but last year, we heard he returned home after the regional police force issued a certification clearing his name. We knew he was in town when he started personally responding to birthday greetings on social media.
It wasn’t until last weekend though that he finally went public to tell his story. And as he recounted, it all started with one media personality (can’t remember who) that alleged the existence of a shabu laboratory inside the giant KingKong structure within the popular Campuestohan resort owned by Cano.
To counter the attacks, Cano invited members of the media in a very hyped event to come and investigate KingKong. Nothing has been found but the allegations persisted until the Tan couple got ambushed.
“God works in mysterious ways, and today I am happy to say that I have made it through the storm,” Cano said, adding that all throughout these times, “I have been living under fear of sleepless nights and constant uncertainty.”
While away, Cano said he could not help but cry day and night as he missed his grandchildren and worried about Nita who was left to manage their family business.
“I am happy now,” said Cano, adding that he has started entertaining at home and just enjoy his family.
Of course the public speculated about the timing that Cano may once again return to politics. However, he said that is far from his mind right now but he will always be willing to serve the people.
Prior to his press conference, social media pages that is anti-Leonardia posted a text message, allegedly coming from a pro-administration handler, telling their supporters to watch and share the live links of the presscon and blast comments. The message further said that Cano will be supporting the candidacy of former congressman Albee Benitez who has transferred his voter’s registration to Bacolod but has not officially declared that he will challenge the incumbent mayor.
Nothing of the kind was mentioned in the presscon nor did Cano utter the name of Mayor Bing. But live comments against the former councilor and undying support to the mayor flooded various social media pages of media outfits here while the presscon was ongoing.
But I bet, if Cano will ultimately be asked to support a candidate, I am pretty sure he will go with Albee. As to his candidacy, just like Albee, if there is a clamor, why not?/PN
