Why is Mabilog aggressive vs drugs only now?
I’M AN Ilonggo born and raised in Iloilo City.
A paid advertisement (Page A12, 7/1/16) was caused to be published obviously by or for Mayor Jed Mabilog of Iloilo City to make it appear that he has launched an aggressive campaign against illegal drugs in Iloilo City.
But how true is the rumor that a certain high-profile drug personality in Iloilo is often seen in the office of the mayor? This rumor may have created the impression the mayor is a coddler of drug traffickers and pushers.
Mabilog now faces a graft charge for unexplained wealth before the Ombudsman. Doesn’t that raise eyebrows?
Mabilog has been councilor, vice mayor, and now is on his third term as mayor of Iloilo City. Why is it only now that he is interested in taking aggressive action on the very serious, escalating drug problem in the city? Because the newly installed President Duterte has vowed to eradicate those involved in drugs?
An honest and clean government leader needs no drumbeater. His worthy deeds and accomplishments will by themselves mirror and augur well for him. Only demagogues resort to drumbeating.
I appeal to the President to please take special concern on the exacerbating drug problem in Iloilo. A personality exposed by a local radio station in Iloilo for alleged drug activities stormed the radio station with his goons, threatened harm on the commentator and his staff, and took the CCTV installed within the premises for which he now stands criminally charged before a court of law. This is reminiscent of Pablo Escobar of Colombia in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
I also appeal to Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales to give serious concern to the graft charge for unexplained wealth and other graft charges against Mayor Mabilog.
—REX G. RICO, Rico & Associates Lawyers, [email protected]
