OPENING STATEMENT OF FORMER ILOILO CITY MAYOR JED PATRICK MABILOG AT THE HOUSE QUADCOM HEARING ON THURSDAY, SEPT. 19:

Mga iginagalang na mga miyembro ng Kamara de Representantes. Noong MGA nakaraang linggo, nabalitaan ko po ang pagnanais nina Congresswoman Jam Baronda at Congressman Barbers at congressman Caraps Paduano na imbitahan akong maging resource person sa hearing ng Quad Committee. Maraming Salamat.

Napaisip ako nang marinig ko ang balita. SABI KO SA SARILI, Ito na siguro ang tamang pagkakataon na MALAYA AKONG KUKUHA NG LAKAS NG LOOB AT MAGSASALITA NG KATOTOHANAN KAHIT AKO PA AY NATATAKOT AT MAY PANGAMBA SA AKING BUHAY.

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.

After seven years of self-exile DAHIL sa napulitika at walang basehang MGA akusasyon, kaliwa’t kanang mga paratang, at higit sa lahat, mga banta sa aking buhay, at sa buhay ng aking pamilya. Narito po ako at humaharap sa inyo.

Naging Chairman ng Kabataang Barangay, no. 1 City Councilor, Vice Mayor at Mayor in 2010, 2013 and 2016 and was FORTUNATE to have been chosen as Top 5 World Mayor in 2015 that included former President Duterte as a nominee.

In the campaign against illegal drugs, As Mayor, as mandated by law, I am aware of my authority to set local policies and priorities related to crime and drugs. I’m also aware that under the law the PNP and the PDEA handle crime investigation and response and the combating of drug trafficking and enforcement of drug laws while the Mayor relies on the police and PDEA to implement them.

And so when I became mayor AND having made aware that there were existing drug groups in the City, I immediately initiated anti illegal drug campaign and policies among other programs. I activated the Brgy. anti drug abuse councils.

IN 2014, according to PDEA, Iloilo City was the first city in the country to have 100% of its BADAC activated.

In the 6 years that I have been Mayor of Iloilo City, we consistently received national Recognitions from both PDEA and the PNP in the years 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017, for the comprehensive programs including rehab and logistical support to the PNP and PDEA in their drive against illegal drugs.

Since the existence of these drug syndicates in our City was deeply rooted. I relied on the expertise of the local PNP and Regional PDEA to deal with these drug groups while I focused on the socio-economic programs that would address the root causes of poverty that EXPOSE the vulnerable population to cope against the evils of illegal drugs.

But all of these efforts were IGNORED BY THE DUTERTE ADMINISTRATION.

Kung matatandaan po ninyo, nagsimula ang lahat ng ito noong bigla na lamang naisama ang aking pangalan sa “PRRD narco-list” ng administrasyong Duterte.

Isang listahang naglalaman ng mga pangalan ng mga kilalang public official na diumano ay sangkot sa illegal na droga, mga paratang na walang basehan at kahit kailan ay hindi naman napatunayan. As a matter of fact, until today, there are no drug related cases that have been filed against me and my person.

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. 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. Itong PRRD list diumano ay naging isang “hit list”.

Sa isang public forum ng PDEA noong 2018, mismong ang Regional Adjudication Committee o tinatawag na RAC ay nagsabi na wala Yung pangalan ko sa kanilang listahan. While in the Iloilo City Anti Drug Abuse Council Meeting, then PDEA 6 Regional Director Gil Pabilona at Iloilo City Police Director SSupt. Remus Canieso, officially ang nagpatotoo na wala rin ang pangalan ko sa drug list.

Ngunit nanatili ang listahan sa kanilang mga record. Hanggang ngayon, lahat ng mga paratang at akusasyong ibinabato sa akin ay patuloy na sumisira sa aking reputasyon, at pati na rin ang reputasyon ng minamahal kong Iloilo. Dahil sa seryosong banta sa aking buhay, napilitan ako na hindi bumalik from an international speaking engagement in Japan at lisanin ny aking pamilya ang bayang buong pagsisikap naming itinaguyod ng may dangal.

PRRD even assigned Lt. Col. Espenido to Iloilo and announced with a threat – “Mabubuhi pa Kaya siya” ibig sabihin “Mabubuhay pa kaya siya” Referring to me. Pinalad po ako na meron akong speaking engagement sa isang international conference sa Japan kaya nakaalis ako ng bansa.

Paulit-ulit ang pagbabanta ni Presidente Duterte sa media, harap-harapang sinasabi na ipapa-patay daw ako.

At alam po nating lahat, hindi lamang po ito basta-basta pagbabanta, kayang-kaya niya pong totohanin ito.

Labag man SA kalooban, kinailangan po naming lumisan at huwag na munang bumalik sa Pilipinas.

On August 28, 2017, I received an unexpected call from former PNP Regional Director Bernardo Diaz. He invited me to meet with PNP Chief Ronald de la Rosa at Camp Crame, Quezon City, at noon the following day. The next morning, on August 29, I arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport at 10 a.m., ready to proceed. But then the calls started. First, they moved the meeting to 3 p.m., and then, by 5 p.m., it was delayed again, this time to 6 p.m.

At around 5 p.m., a PNP Colonel called me and, in a voice that sent shivers down my spine, warned me not to go to Camp Crame. Soon after, at 6:32 p.m., my wife, Marivic, received a text from a PNP Colonel’s wife: “Do not proceed. There are twenty (20) men surrounding your house, and warned that if I go to Camp Crame, they will kill me.”

When I reached Japan, I received a message from General Diaz to call a number, and then when I made the call I spoke to General Bato, he asked me to return home and meet him because he will help me and he told me “I was Innocent and was not involved in drugs.

Immediately after that call, my phone rang, this time another General called me and said do not return, “your life is in danger”

Dumeretso kami sa US at nag apply ng political asylum. Mapalad po kami na pinagkalooban ng US ng political asylum. Patunay na walang nakitang kadahilanan sa mga maling paratang na ibinibintang sa akin.

MASAKIT AT MALUNGKOT, ngunit napilitan akong lumisan mula SA aking sinumpaang tungkulin, sa aking pamilya, at sa mga KABABAYAN KONG Ilonggo NA SINUMPAAN KONG PAGSILBIHAN, hindi dahil sa nagkasala ako kundi dahil NANGANGANIB NA PO ANG AKING BUHAY.

I come before you today not merely to recount my sufferings but to highlight a critical flaw in our system—one that allows law enforcement agencies to be weaponized for political purposes, that illegal drug trade stems from the ills of our society -from poverty to corruption of government institutions including our law enforcement agencies.

But using state institutions to carry out personal vendettas or silence perceived enemies undermine the foundation of justice and democracy in our country.

No individual should be able to wield such unchecked authority regardless of their position or power.

Ang karanasan kong ito ay ang nag-mulat sa akin sa mga pagkukulang at kakulangan ng ating law enforcement agencies.

Kailangan mapatibay pa ang mga institusyong ito upang hindi basta-basta magagamit o maimpluwensyahan ng pulitika, masigurong makakapagsisilbi nang may integridad, walang kinikilingan, at may respeto sa batas.

Ang panawagan ko po, Manguna po ANG hustisya at magkaroon ng reporma sa ating
system — partikular sa pamamalakad ng ating law enforcement AGENCIES. “

Accusations must be duly validated and authenticated first before any public announcement to avoid shaming and destroying the honor, reputation, and good image of a hardworking and innocent person.

Higit sa lahat, panagutin ang mga umaabuso sa kapangyarihan.

SANA ANG NADANASAN KONG paghihirap na durog na durog, persekyusyon at trauma ay HINDI NA MARANSAN NG IBA at mananaig ang katotohanan at hindi ang pamumulitika o personal na interes ng iilan.
Maraming salamat sa Quad Committee na ito, dahil nabigyan ako ng pagkakataon na linisin  ang aking pangalan at ng minamahal kong Iloilo.

MAGANDANG ARAW PO. DAKBANWA SANG ILOILO, BUGAL KO, MY CITY, MY PRIDE, I AM ILOILO, PROUD TO BE FILIPINO.