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BY HERBERT VEGO
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Sunday, November 5, 2017
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TAKE it from the horse’s mouth, it’s not really “hidden wealth” that prompted Overall Deputy Ombudsman Melchor Arthur Carandang to sign the decision sacking Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog. That ruling did not really rule out the possibility of Mabilog legally acquiring the sudden surge of his income by P8,938,082.52 from year 2012 to 2013.
To quote President Rodrigo Duterte verbatim, “Kita mo si Mabilog? Mabilog is, I think a cousin of Drilon, wala na. The Ombudsman, in a very, very late gesture, para kunwari na sinuportahan nila ako, fired, stripped him of his mayorship,” he said.
Why did Duterte say that? Was it because he was not convinced of Carandang’s ground for stripping Mabilog of the Iloilo City mayorship? Obviously, the President believes that Carandang is now trying to appease him whom he had offended.
Remember, as published by the Philippine Daily Inquirer (Sept. 24, 2017), it was Carandang who had confirmed Sen. Antonio Trillanes’ claim that the Duterte family, based on information from the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), had accumulated hidden wealth amounting to P1 billion-plus.
On the other hand, it is public knowledge that Duterte has been accusing Mabilog of being “protector” of a killed drug lord.
Remember the saying, “The enemy of my enemy is my friend.”
If he were not trying to save himself from presidential ire, shouldn’t Carandang have forwarded the draft of the Mabilog ruling to Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales for her signature? Incidentally, it was drafted by a subordinate prosecutor, Rachel Cariaga-Favila.
That reminds us of the argument raised by Mabilog’s lawyer, Joenar Pueblo, who said in a press conference, “May provision sa Ombudsman law that with regards to officials of municipalities and local governments, the Ombudsman is the one who signs orders and resolutions. Wala sia may ginhambal nga deputy or overall deputy Ombudsman, only the Ombudsman.”
That Morales had not taken it upon herself to sign the decision must have sprung from her own survival instinct, knowing that Duterte had threatened her with impeachment, holding her equally liable over her deputy’s attempt to investigate the President’s “hidden wealth.”
It is ironic that for telling the truth in his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN), Mayor Mabilog must suffer perpetual disqualification from public office. Anybody who knows Mabilog knows it is not impossible for him to legally earn an added P8.9 million on top of his salary and allowances in one year. He is a multi-outlet franchisee of Mang Inasal, one of the biggest restaurant chains in the Philippines; also of Happy Doughnut.
It is only “hope against hope” that has prompted the legal camp of Mabilog to file a petition for a writ of certiorari before the Court of Appeals (CA) to reverse the mayor’s dismissal. It is no secret that the mayor himself has resigned from the Liberal Party and tried to reverse the President’s prejudice but to no avail. For instance, prodded by Rep. Jerry Treñas, he attended the mass oath-taking of barangay leaders joining the President’s party, PDP-Laban, on Aug. 13.
Not even the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) could disabuse Duterte of his adamant notion that he is a “narco-politician.” As I said in a previous column, when then PDEA regional director Gil Pabilona “cleared” Mabilog of that accusation, it was he who had to clear his desk after the President suddenly replaced him with Wardley Getalla.
So far, Mabilog – who remains on sick leave in an undisclosed location abroad – has not commented about the Ombudsman’s ruling that compelled his political ally, Vice Mayor Jose Espinosa III, to take over the Iloilo City Hall. Who knows whether it’s a blessing in disguise? It must have relieved him of harmful, prolonged stress. (hvego31@gmail.com/PN)
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