President Rodrigo R. Duterte maintained that former Iloilo City mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog was a drug protector.
In his speech at an event on Sunday, June 12, Duterte mentioned about his administration’s flagship campaign against illegal drugs.
“Kaya sabi ko ‘di ba? I’m fighting drugs, I never realized that I would be fighting my own government, pati sa [Bureau of] Customs, lahat,” he lamented.
“Pati si Mayor Mabilog. Iyong mayor ng Iloilo, tingnan mo ang p***** i***** bahay parang palasyo,” the President added.
Duterte thinks Mabilog will stay in exile unless the government is led by opposition leaders.
“Sabi ko, tanong siya kay Bong, ‘Bong, galit ba si Mayor sa akin?’ Sabi ko, ‘Sabihin mo Bong, siya na ang isusunod ko.’ Kaya lumayas, hindi na bumalik, lalo na ang another six years siya. Siguro ‘pag nanalo ‘yung kabila, he will find a refuge,” he said.
In August 2016, Duterte named Mabilog as among the protectors of illegal drugs.
The President claimed that the former mayor was protecting slain drug lord Melvin “Boyet” Odicta Sr., also known as “Dragon.”
Mabilog repeatedly denied Duterte’s allegation.“I can categorically say that I am not involved in the protection, trade and use of illegal drugs.”
Mabilog, his wife and children left the country in 2017 for security reasons. Their exact whereabouts remained unknown.IMT
