When former mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog of Iloilo City was given the opportunity to say his piece against former President Digong Duterte at the House Quad Comm hearings, he eclipsed new media celebrity Alice Guo.
The latest House hearing last Friday was the sixth, and the agenda listed POGO (Philippine Offshore Gaming Operation) as the topic. Alice Guo came in early as a resource person, and it would have been entirely her show. But the congressmen had other matters in mind to prioritize. Or was it House Speaker Martin Romualdez, who obviously calls the shots in his chamber?
On the motion of Rep. Joseph Paduano, the POGO topic was sidelined and center stage was given to Mayor Mabilog, who dramatically talked about his ordeal more than seven years ago during the height of the anti-drug war of Duterte. Rep. Johnny Pimentel’s questioning of Mabilog was obviously scripted, feeding the former mayor with info questions to flesh out a PR effect.
The four committees investigating crimes related to POGO were glad to give the microphone to Mabilog, allowing him to air serious charges of harassment and threats against Duterte and his former officials.
It would seem that the Quad Comm is consistently “sticking to the plan,” whatever that means, although it remains to be explained to the public by Rep. Stella Quimbo what plan it is that the House members should be sticking to.
Mabilog related how Duterte allegedly inserted his name on the list of local officials who are actively engaged in the illegal drugs trade, and made it a “hit list.”
Mabilog had to leave the country for fear of his life, as people involved in drugs were being killed or arrested during Duterte’s time. Police Gen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa advised him to come home and assured his safety but the mayor believed a friend that it was a trap and he would be killed. He is back in Manila now that is out of power and is in fact having a feud with the current dispensation.
Hearing all these events, the prejudicial question remains: was Mabilog really involved in illegal drugs as claimed by Duterte? Mabilog had denied involvement in drugs in his testimony, but blanket denial was all there is; it does not put a definitive closure on the issue.
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla wants this question answered, as the DOJ plans to look into Mabilog’s alleged involvement in illegal drugs, considering the gravity of the accusation against him.
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