ILOILO City – The Court of Appeals (CA) overturned the Office of the Ombudsman’s decision that found then mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog guilty of serious dishonesty for “unlawful acquisition of wealth” back in August 2017.
The administrative complaint filed against Mabilog lacked lacks factual basis, according to Associate Justice Lorenza R. Bordios of the CA’s 19th Division in a 22-page decision promulgated on June 11, 2021.
The qualifying circumstances for serious dishonesty have not been established, the appellate court stressed.
“The finding of serious damage and grave prejudice to the government was a general conclusion that was not sufficiently explained…In fact, it seems to have been based solely on the amount of the petitioner’s alleged unexplained wealth,” part of the CA decision read.
There was likewise “no allegation of moral depravity, grave abuse of authority, or falsification of official documents relating to government employment,” it added.
Furthermore, according to the CA, “this case does not involve accountable property, civil service examinations and/or eligibility, or any other such circumstances. Accordingly, the finding that the petitioner was guilty of serious dishonesty lacks factual basis.”
The complaint was filed by former Iloilo provincial administrator and journalist Manuel Mejorada.
In August 2017 Mabilog was ordered dismissed after the Ombudsman found him guilty of serious dishonesty for failing to explain how his wealth grew from 2012 to 2013. His Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN) in 2013 showed a P8.9-million increase from his 2012 records, or from P59.4 million to P68.3 million, Mejorada alleged.
Because his salary and other forms of income did not account for the sudden increase, and his failure to present proof of income from the business interests listed in his SALN, the Ombudsman ruled that Mabilog had malicious intent to hide the source of his sudden wealth.
Mabilog was also meted the accessory penalties of cancellation of civil service eligibility, forfeiture of retirement benefits, and perpetual disqualification from holding office.
THANKFUL
Following the CA’s favorable decision, Mabilog – now based in Canada – thanked those who did lose trust in him. Always stand with the truth and the truth will set you free, he stressed.
“Sa tanan nga padayon nga nag-believe, salamat gid. Sa tanan nga nagpalagyo, nagtalikod, nanago, kag nag-judge sa akon, may God have mercy on their souls,” added Mabilog.
His wife, Maria Victoria or “Marivic” also welcomed the CA decision.
“We’re really very happy nga amo ‘na ‘ya naabtan sang kaso. I know that’s going to come. Bal-an namon nga the truth will eventually set us free. The truth (will) eventually vindicate Jed,” she said.
Marivic added that she was also thankful that the decision came during President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration “para indi sila maghambal nga ginluto.”
“This case actually removes all the doubt sang iban nga mga tawo on how we accumulated our wealth,” Marivic said.
“Everyone knows… Not a single stolen centavo was used para sa amon nga acquisition of all our assets,” stressed Marivic, a certified public accountant and corporate comptroller in Canada.
‘DIGONG IS MANOL’
She also twitted President Rodrigo Duterte for describing their residence in Molo district as a mansion.
“Manol-manol ‘na ‘ya si Digong,” she said. “Indi ‘na ‘ya mansion ang amon balay. Kagamay sina – 200 square meters lot,” said Marivic.
In August 2017, Duterte ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to conduct a lifestyle check on Mabilog.
NBI agents entered the Mabilog compound in Barangay Tap-oc, Molo, looked around and took pictures.
“Kon i-consider ‘na ni Digong nga mansion, kadto ‘to bala sia sa San Joaquin kag Miag-ao. Ano ‘to ‘ya ang ila, palasyo kag kingdom?” Marivic quipped, referring to residences in the two Iloilo towns that were much bigger and more opulent.
The former mayor was one of the local officials President Duterte had linked to illegal drugs, an accusation Mabilog had repeatedly denied.
Mabilog left the country in Aug. 30, 2017 and had not returned for security reasons.
Turning introspective, Marivic said what her husband and their family went through may have been “meant to be”.
“I think this is off-hand divine nga we will be here tapos during the pandemic…Kaluoy bala si Mayor Jerry Treñas. Kon si Mayor Jed da subong basi nagpanghilam-os na sia with the problem nga ginadala sang COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019),” said Marvic.
WHAT’S NEXT?
Marivic said her husband will be the one to decide if he would return to Iloilo City, and to politics.
“Jed and our family have already served and sacrificed more than enough or more than what was expected of us to make Iloilo City as good as is it now,” she said.
“Ako ‘ya, as usual pahuway na tani kami sa politika, tapos retire na tani. Allow Jed the freedom bala and unencumbered life outside politics. But kon si Jed naman ‘ya ang madesisyon, sia na lang ang mangkota ninyo,” Marivic added in an interview over DYFM Bombo Radyo Iloilo yesterday./PN
