Injured	Killed
1	0

Date: 05 November 2010
Source: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/regions/view/20101106-301835/Vice-mayor-claims-attack-cops-say-its-a-gunfight

LUCENA CITY, Philippines—San Francisco Vice Mayor Ernani Tan said Friday he barely survived an attempt in his life when gunmen attacked his house shortly before midnight Thursday.

The attack was recorded in a police report quoting PO2 Joel Razo Sanao, San Francisco police investigator.

It said at past noon, Tan reported to the police station that while he was in his terrace, he was shot several times by one Elmer Arbon, a municipal employee, who shouted invectives at him prior to the shooting.

The gunman missed his mark.

“I immediately ducked for cover when I heard the first volley of gunfire,” Tan, also former mayor of San Francisco for nine years, said in an interview in Lucena City.

Two suspects

He said another person also arrived and joined Arbon in the shooting.

“I was later told by my neighbors that another shooter joined Elmer,” Tan said.

He alleged that Arbon and the other shooter were bodyguards of his political rival.

“The shooters just shot at my house. Their aim was to harass me and my family or kill me. This is part of the dirty politics of my detractors,” Tan said.

He assailed Inspector McArthur Mercader, San Francisco police chief, for the officer’s alleged inefficient handling of the investigation.

“One of the suspects had been identified but he was not even invited for routine questioning. I was the mayor of this town for nine years and now its vice mayor but I was not given the courtesy due me,” the vice mayor said.

Tan said his lawyer was preparing a formal complaint against Mercader, which he would submit to the National Police Commission.

Gunfight, not attack

Mercader belied Tan’s allegation and claimed that what really took place was a gunfight between Arbon and one of Tan’s bodyguards.

He cited the recovery of 14 shells from a .45-caliber pistol and 9 mm handgun, and four bullet fragments in front of Tan’s house.

“There was an exchange of gunfire. And I was simply doing my job as a policeman,” the police official said over the phone.

Tan said the case could have been avoided if his earlier request for a police security escort was granted by the Quezon Provincial Police Office.

“I requested for police escort twice but both requests were denied. Delfin T. Mallari Jr., Inquirer Southern Luzon