Former Iloilo City major Jed Patrick Mabilog, who was repeatedly accused by then president Rodrigo Duterte of being a drug protector, deserves justice, according to Congresswoman Julienne “Jamjam” Baronda.
“Kaupod sa mga Ilonggo sa kabarangayan, luyag naton ang hustisya para kay former mayor Mabilog nga naghatag sang dungog pinaagi sa iya mga proyekto kag mehora diri sa syudad sang Iloilo,” Baronda told IMT NEWS.
“Ini pagkabalaka ni Cong. Jamjam Baronda sa isa ka kasimanwa kag isa man ka public servant nga mahatagan sang patas nga oportunidad nga maklaro kag matinluan ang iya dungog kag ngalan,” she added.
During a joint public hearing of the House Committees on Dangerous Drugs, Public Order and Safety, Human Rights, and Public Accounts (quad committee), Baronda said she is willing to convince Mabilog to return to the Philippines.
“If the quad [committee] allows, I might be able to convince Jed to come home so that we can also ask for his statement. What happened to him? Just to shed light on the war on drugs in Iloilo, which is not true.”
The city’s lone district representative believes that Mabilog, who left the country with his family in 2017, is “a victim of persecution amid wrongful charge as protector.”
“Up until now, we have not seen any evidence or list from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) or Philippine National Police (PNP) showing that Jed is involved in the illegal drug trade or is a protector,” she said.
Mabilog’s return, according to Baronda, will also help clear the city of the “most shabulized” tag made by Duterte in 2016.
She said the tag “tarnished” the city’s name.
Mabilog did not finish his third term which should have ended in 2019. He was replaced by then vice mayor Joe III Espinosa.IMT
