FIRST SAY:
It’s amazing how relaxing it is not to pretend to know more than you do. I’m surprised that those who claim to speak in the name of God don’t take more advantage of this.
—Christopher Hitchens
IT used to be that congressional inquiries were exciting and much anticipated in the Senate. But now, the House of Representatives’ Quad Comm hearings have become more interesting, at least for the public and the media.
The reason is that the four committees of the House are consistently “sticking to the plan,” whatever that means. Whereas in the Senate, the senators are proving their supposed individual independence by having the courage to push opposing views, the congressmen have displayed a more cohesive and united stance on various issues on the table.
The latest celebrity to be called by the Quad Committee headed by Rep. Robert Ace Barbers was former Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog.
Mabilog’s appearance in the House certainly delivered enough drama to rival even the country’s top telenovelas, or those of Korea’s. The committee gave importance to whatever Mabilog had to say because it was the Quad Comm’s sixth hearing and the topic was POGO. Mayor Alice Guo of Bamban, Tarlac had to wait and cool her heels at the committee hearing room to give way to the Mabilog episode. Talk about one telenovela plot rivaling another for TV audience share.
Former mayor Mabilog related how more than seven years ago, then-President Rodrigo Duterte allegedly inserted his name among the local officials of the country who are actively engaged in the illegal drugs trade.
Mabilog had to leave the country for fear of his life, for it was reality that during the early days of Duterte in the Palace, people involved in drugs were being killed or arrested. He later brought his family to Japan. While abroad, Mabilog called then Philippine National Police chief Ronaldo “Bato” dela Rosa who advised him to come home, report to the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame where Bato himself will ensure his security. He said Bato told him he believed that he was innocent of the drug charges and he was a good and efficient city mayor.
Mabilog however reconsidered his decision to come home when another police general-friend of his called him and said that Dela Rosa’s statement was a trap. He would be killed as soon as he arrived in the Philippines. This, Mabilog believed and so he stayed abroad, and finally returned to Manila now that Duterte is out of power and is in fact having a feud with the current dispensation.
Mabilog ended his seven-year self-imposed exile in the US, which gladly gave him political asylum.
But like in any drama series, the million-dollar question remains: is Mabilog really involved in illegal drugs as claimed by Duterte?
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.
Speaking of Remulla, his previous statement that Mabilog is determined to reclaim his old post raises a lot of concern, as the former mayor might use the series of hearings to push his political agenda of winning back the trust of Ilonggos, rather than an avenue to clear his name.
From what I hear from a friend in Iloilo City, Ilonggos are still furious at Mabilog for abandoning them in 2017 and leaving them to defend Iloilo City’s image from the “most shabulized” tag given by Duterte.
Mabilog’s decision to leave them has left a deep wound that even time and an appearance before the Quad Committee can’t heal.
From the looks of it, my Ilonggo friend said it would be best for Mabilog to focus on the corruption charges levied against him before the Sandiganbayan rather than waste his time campaigning for nothing.
While he is away, many things have happened in Iloilo City especially in the areas of economic growth, business and trade and industry.
—o0o—
The Quad Comm hearings will at least afford the public an opportunity to see Duterte’s much-touted drug list then with impartiality, now that he is no longer President and does not enjoy the same political support from the people.
Mayor Mabilog is firm when he said:
“Una po sa lahat I declare that I was not and never will be a drug protector! I don’t know personally nor did I benefit in any way from any illegal drug personality in Iloilo or anywhere else,” he stated, saying no drug-related cases were filed against him until now.
Mabilog pointed out that the narco-list became a "hit list" and accused the Duterte administration of using it to silence political opponents.
“Pero kung inyong titingnang maigi, isinama ang mga pangalan ng kalaban sa pulitika sa isang validated list ng mga drug personalities sa kasunod na PRRD list,” Mabilog said.
“Sa kabila ng mga kuwestiyunableng impormasyong, walang validation o confirmation man lang na ginawa ng kahit na anomang ahensya ng gobyerno sa Malacañang initiated list,” he added.
Interviewed over radio station DZRH, Senator Ronald dela Rosa confirmed that he talked with Mabilog and asked him to return home and he assured his security if he goes straight to Camp Crame. Dela Rosa also confirmed the details of his cellphone conversation with Mabilog, but denied that he was planning to have the Iloilo city mayor killed.
What is plain and clear in this episode is that local politics in Iloilo has again reared its ugly head, and will soon dominate the narrative in the weeks ahead leading to the elections.
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