DIGOS CITY, Philippines?Mayor Joseph Peñas has confirmed that police escorting Cavite Representative Lani Mercado Revilla used sirens in accompanying her out of the city on Wednesday, but he stressed that they used short siren bursts and the long-high pitched siren.

Peñas phoned the Philippine Daily Inquirer on Thursday and explained that the patrol car used short siren bursts so that tricycle drivers would give way to the convoy that would see Mercado out of the city around 11 a.m.

Mercado was guest of honor during the city?s anniversary celebration and did not stay long, saying she had to catch her flight from Davao City in time for Congress? session at 4 p.m.

Davao City is just about an hour's drive away.

Residents said they wondered if President Benigno Aquino III?s directive against the use of sirens had been lifted.

The President is known for refusing to use his car?s siren even when he is already late for his appointment.

?I would not even allow the police to use their sirens at full blast just to escort a VIP. I know there was a directive from the President,? Peñas said, as he insisted it was a succession of short bursts of siren.

?The sound was akin to a horn,? he added.

While city officials had to defend the use of the siren, some residents sided with Mercado saying she should not be faulted for the incident.

?The buck stops at city hall,? a resident living along the main street the convoy passed, said.