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BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
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ILOILO City – Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog is distancing himself from three allies – the barangay captains facing investigation for the proliferation of illegal drugs in their turfs.
He welcomed the Sangguniang Panlungsod’s move to probe the village chiefs for possible gross neglect of duty and grave misconduct, said City Administrator Hernando Galvez.
The three barangay captains are Keith Espinosa of Barangay Monica Blumentritt, City Proper; Remia Prevendido Gregori of Bakhaw, Mandurriao; and Noemi Jablo of Desamparados, Jaro.
As far as the mayor is concerned, said Galvez, he had been doing is part in the campaign against illegal drugs.
Mabilog respects the city council’s move and recognizes this as aligned with President Rodrigo Duterte’s call for public support in the campaign, Galvez added.
The city council’s Committee on Police, Fire, Penology, Public Safety, Order & Security, Dangerous Drugs & Rehabilitation chaired by Councilor Jeffrey Ganzon will be investigating the three barangay captains.
“The city council has the exclusive jurisdiction in this case,” Galvez said, hinting that Mabilog will not try to dip his fingers in it.
Mabilog himself was called out by President Duterte in August. The country’s chief executive tagged the city mayor as a coddler of drug traffickers. Mabilog, however, denied this.
The three barangay captains are all supporters of Mabilog. Espinosa is the wife of Jesus “Jing-jing” Espinosa Jr., ranked No. 2 in the Iloilo City Police Office – Police Station 1’s list of suspected drug personalities in the City Proper. Their house was raided on Oct. 2. Policemen recovered seven plastic sachets of shabu.
Monday last week when Espinosa Jr. surrendered to the police, he denied that Mabilog was his protector.
According to Espinosa Jr., Mabilog was unfairly linked to illegal drugs because of their friendship.
President Duterte’s tagging of Mabilog as an illegal drugs protector came months after two Senate inquiries on drug trafficking in Iloilo City. One of the resource persons, Councilor Plaridel Nava, showed to Sen. Grace Poe photos of Espinosa Jr. and Mabilog together on several occasions.
A red-faced Mabilog who was at the inquiry explained, however, that as a public official attending public events, having his pictures taken with other barangay officials was not unusual.
Gregori is a sister of suspected big-time personality Richard Prevendido. Her barangay has been classified by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency as “seriously affected” by illegal drugs.
Jablo is a sister-in-law of a chicken inasal vendor who was killed on Saturday by gunmen. Police said the shooting could be drug-related./PN
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