By Modesto P. Sa-onoy
Since the accusations against Cano Guapo Tan have been cleared by the proper government agencies and business and political rivals have hardly any grave reasons to do him harm, what is left as the possible cause of the ambush? Only one thing remains – the existence of rogue policemen but then for what reason? The misinformation about him?
Cano Guapo Tan has said something that could be a reason for the ambush – loose talks. As a sign during World War II said, “loose talks kill.”
During the Q&A last May 2, Cano Tan responded to a question and among his answers was that a radio commentator nag walwal (wagged his tongue) that he is a drug lord and that the illegal drug factory was underneath the giant King Kong in Campuestohan. Cano invited the police and media there and they found nothing, but “the lies” never stopped until he was ambushed.
He attributed to a certain extent the hate campaign against him to these loose talks that perhaps emboldened the perpetrators to believe that under the cover of this charge, the police would not be inclined to investigate. They were right because the police practically brushed aside the frustrated murder. The public bit the idea that is was part of the police campaign.
Thus Cano considered it important that he should come out and put an end to this speculation with the certification from the PNP. It took him time to consider this move. The date of the PNP certification saying there is no record of his alleged drug connections is August 2020. By coming out publicly with documentation, he finally put an end to loose talks.
Cano Tan told the press he has no political plans and he will focus his time on his family. He devoted a lot of time in his statement about how he missed his family, especially his two grandchildren. These kids “keep my life colorful despite the odds and challenges of life.” And he thanked them for that but “most of all to our loving God almighty who is so kind and understanding.”
He had much reason to be grateful to God because “in December 2018 my world crumbled, completely shattered. That time I thought it was already the end of everything. But God works in marvelous ways and through His mantle of protection and divine guidance, I am happy to say that I have made it through the storm.”
Since his ambush, he “lived in fear, of sleeplessness and constant uncertainty. But now I am happy to go back to my normal life and together with my family and grandchildren, I can face my employees and entertain friends in the safe comfort of my home.”
He narrated what he went through and his search for truth and justice. “I cried a river of tears, day and night, missing the smiles and laughter of my grandchildren” and concern to “think about my wife working so hard to keep our family business running. I cried thinking that my son and his wife will now assume the role of the father of the family all because I am somewhere else doing something that is best for justice and truth.”
It took a lot of courage to maintain one’s sanity and foreswear taking revenge against whoever attempted to kill him. He admitted, like any other human being, to initially consider revenge but his faith in God and God’s divine justice prevailed. That frame of mind, subliming one’s pains to God’s mercy and justice, takes a lot of strength of faith in God.
And he did by yielding to Divine Justice. In a sense cleansing himself of the pain and regaining courage and strength to move on rather than dwell on the incident that almost snuffed out his life.
Everything in life has a purpose. God did not create us for anything but, as the Catechism of the Catholic Church says “to know Him, to love Him, to worship Him that we may be with Him in eternity.”
But more than this God created us to be an instrument of His will, to do things that God maybe magnified in the work of our hands.
God spared Cano Tan for a purpose. For what? Only God knows.
