JOE: ILOILO NOW OK WITH Du30

[av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=” av-desktop-hide=” av-medium-hide=” av-small-hide=” av-mini-hide=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=”]

[/av_textblock]

[av_one_full first min_height=” vertical_alignment=” space=” custom_margin=” margin=’0px’ padding=’0px’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ background_color=” src=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=”]

[av_heading heading=’JOE: ILOILO NOW OK WITH Du30 ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=’30’ subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
[/av_heading]

[av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
Tuesday, November 28, 2017
[/av_textblock]

[av_textblock size=’18’ font_color=” color=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
ILOILO City – “Okay na ta sa Presidente.” This was how Mayor Jose Espinosa III interpreted the cordial welcome he received from President Rodrigo Duterte during a visit to Malacañang last week.

The mayor personally invited the President to grace the 50th anniversary of Dinagyang Festival on January 2018.

That the President spent 45 minutes with him at the presidential study room – together with Cong. Ferjenel Biron of Iloilo’s 4th District and Sen. Cynthia Villar – showed that “maayo na ang pagtamod ‘ya sa aton sa syudad sang Iloilo,” said Espinosa.

The President had branded Iloilo “most shabulized” and “bedrock of illegal drugs.” He also accused Espinosa’s predecessor, former mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog, of being a drug protector.

Espinosa said the Nov. 23 “special audience” with the President was a “rare opportunity” given the busy schedule of the country’s chief executive.

He described the President as “a simple man” and “fatherly.”

“Sa pag-welcome pa lang sa aton sa Malacañang…gina-interpret ko nga okay na ‘ta sa Presidente,” Espinosa told reporters yesterday.

There was no discussion about illegal drugs in Iloilo City, he said, but Duterte reminded him not to interfere in the antidrug operations of law enforcement agencies.

This was Espinosa’s first visit to the Palace as mayor after Mabilog was dismissed by the Office of the Ombudsman in October for unexplained wealth.

He expressed confidence that this improved relations with the President would translate to easier access to Cabinet secretaries through which the city government could lobby for projects.

The atmosphere was way different when Mabilog visited Malacañang on Jan. 11 this year. The President summoned all of the country’s mayors and warned them against being involved in illegal drugs; Mabilog was singled out by Duterte.

When news of the Ombudsman’s dismissal of Mabilog from government service reached Malacañang recently, the President said it came “very, very late.”

With Mabilog now gone, will Duterte grace Dinagyang 2018?

Mabilog invited Duterte to grace this year’s edition of Dinagyang but the President turned it down.

Although the President has not formally said yes to the invitation, the signs are good, according to Espinosa.

The President asked his trusted aide Bong Go (Special Assistant to the President, with the rank of Secretary, with supervision over the Presidential Management Staff) to check his schedule, he said.

The Presidential Security Group and the President’s appointment secretary were also put on notice, added Espinosa.

“Iloilo grabe talaga,” said Duterte in a speech in August last year when he tagged Mabilog an illegal drug protector.

Three weeks after saying this, unidentified gunmen shot to death Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-identified drug lord Melvin Odicta Sr. and wife Meriam at the jetty port of Barangay Caticlan in Malay, Aklan.

Duterte recalled the time he campaigned for president in Iloilo. The people were “almost [desperately]” asking help from him, he said.

“Just pray. Just pray that I will win, and maybe, in the fullness of God’s time, I would take care of this problem,” he remembered telling the Ilonggos.

Mabilog denied any involvement to illegal drugs./PN
[/av_textblock]

[/av_one_full]