Cebu official files attempted homicide case vs American

CEBU CITY — Vice Mayor Renato Osmeña made good his threat to sue an American national for attempted homicide.

Osmeña was nearly sideswiped when American Tim Harvel sped away in his van to avoid apprehension for a traffic violation shortly after midnight of March 7.

Osmeña said he chased Harvey, 46, after the American ran a red light at the corner of Escario street and Archbishop Reyes Avenue.

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 the brief chase, and asked for his license.

Osmeña and his companion, police officer Marcelino Sevilla, both got off and approached Harvel.

The complainant said that when he "courteously introduced" himself as the vice mayor and informed Harvel of the traffic violation he had allegedly committed, the American suddenly shouted, "What’s wrong with you?"

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

The van was later found by Osmeña and some policemen in front of the hotel Harvel had been staying.

Osmeña’s complaint was supported by an affidavit of a barangay tanod, Alden Redilla, who attested he had seen Osmeña block Harvel’s car.

Redilla said he witnessed Harvel back up and then speed forward, nearly hitting the vice mayor had he not jumped out of the way. — Freeman News Service