Cebu City vice mayor to file raps vs foreigner

CEBU CITY — Vice Mayor Renato Osmeña said his lawyers were readying charges against an American motorist who allegedly tried to sideswipe him after he accosted the foreigner for a traffic violation last Wednesday night.

Osmeña believes that the American motorist, Tim Harvel, 46, is still in Cebu and may just have moved to another hotel.

Harvel was reported to have checked out of the Century Golden Peak Hotel at noon Thursday before Osmeña could complete the filing of charges of reckless driving, attempted homicide and resisting arrest, against him.

Osmeña, who heads the Police Coordinating Advisory Council, cut in front of Harvel’s gray Mitsubishi L-300 van (with license plate WHL 765) and blocked him with his own car after a brief chase and asked for his license for running a red light.

Harvel allegedly refused and instead gunned his engine and fled from the scene, nearly sideswiping the vice mayor.

Osmeña said he identified himself as the vice mayor and explained the reason why he stopped Harvel.

Osmeña and some policemen from the traffic division later found the van in front of the driveway of Century Golden Peak Hotel.

He said that once the case is filed, he may ask for the issuance of a hold departure order against Harvel.

If Harvel has already left the country, Osmeña said he will still file the case in absentia "to teach him a lesson." — Freeman News Service