Former councilor’s name  removed from ‘drug list’

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD City – Former Bacolod City councilor and businessman Ricardo “Cano” Tan of Bacolod City has been removed from the Inter-Agency Drug Information Database.

This was contained in a memorandum issued by Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año on Aug 11, 2021.

Tan’s de-listment was approved by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte through a memorandum dated July 31, 2021 upon recommendation, review, evaluation, and management of the Inter-Agency Drug Information Database Committee.

In a press conference Saturday, Tan furnished the media with a copy of the certification which he said he only received recently.

Tan’s inclusion in the drug list and the attempt on his life in 2019 forced him to hide from the public eye until 2021.

He considered his exoneration as the most significant gift and blessing he received from God and the President.

He said this brought back his freedom as a well-meaning citizen of Bacolod City and this country.

He thanked the President for speaking the truth about his innocence that will ultimately help expunge all allegations, doubts, and intrigues fabricated against him in what he labelled as fake news.

He said the certification vindicated him.

“This is it. The President has spoken. He gave me my absolute freedom. I stand proud now before the public as a vindicated man. This Certification resulted from validation and revalidation conducted by the Inter-Agency task force as indicated in the Certification issued by B/Gen. Rene P. Pamuspusan, the former Regional Director of Philippine National Police – Region 6. The said Inter-Agency Task Force has recommended clearing my name from all forms of illegal drug activities. The same was submitted to the Office of the President for his approval. And the President has granted his approval on this matter,” Cano Tan said.

Tan said the development is “justice in black and white.”

“This is proof that Cano Tan did not engage in any illegal drug activity in Bacolod City and elsewhere. Thank you, President Duterte, for the objective review of my circumstance.”

He also thanked the members of the Inter-Agency Committee for giving him the due process that finally rendered him an innocent man.

This certification is the vindication that he has prayed for saying it was “not just a piece of paper” but symbolizes his freedom from all accusations against him.

“Justice has been served, and the buck stops here. Time and again, I have vehemently denied any involvement in any form of illegal drug activity that even the lifeless King Kong was dragged in the controversy. I am innocent. I am a victim of fake news and intrigues. I am just an ordinary person who worked hard to achieve what I have dreamed of in my life. Our success was attained through the legal and decent way. And this has convinced the Inter-Agency Task Force and President Duterte to clear my name from any illegal drug link. And I am here now in front of you to tell you the truth,” Tan added.

He fervently hopes that those responsible for sowing intrigues in this magnitude should cease doing the same any further because no less than the President and Sec. Año made a stand in clearing his name.

He further said that when he filed his certificate of candidacy for Councilor of Bacolod last October 8, he heard some people and quarters asking why he should seek public office when his name was linked to illegal drugs.

“Again, I am innocent of all the charges against me, and I know God and the Government are with me. So why would I be afraid to offer my service again to the public? My life is an open book. I am strongly confident that I will be vindicated. My vindication now is an answered prayer. This is clear proof that good will always triumph over evil.”