After being forced into a seven0year exile in the US, former mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog finally came forward at the 6th QuadCom hearing to defend himself against the baseless accusations hurled at him by none other than former President Rodrigo Duterte. Mabilog’s testimony is crucial – it exposes the sinister political machinery of Duterte’s ruthless regime, with direct implications against Duterte and his loyal lackey, Sen. Bato dela Rosa.
Mabilog didn’t hold back laying out the facts: under his leadership, Iloilo City was recognized both locally and internationally for its strides in governance, environmental management and urban development. This is a far cry from Duterte’s infamous smear campaign, which labeled Iloilo the most “shabulized” city in the Philippines. Mabilog even noted that he was named one of the top five mayors in the world by a respected London-based foundation – a distinction that highlights his achievements on a global scale, something Duterte can only dream of.
But here’s where the hypocrisy becomes glaring. Mabilog wasn’t just fighting the drug problem in Iloilo – he was succeeding. The city earned consistent praise from PDEA and PNP for its efforts to combat drugs, yet Duterte still chose to publicly demonize him. During the hearing, Mabilog brought a nearly 10-inch-thick document detailing his and Iloilo’s accomplishments. And honestly, if Cong. Pimentel hadn’t cut him off, Mabilog could have spent hours showing just how thoroughly Duterte’s accusations crumble under the weight of actual evidence.
Imagine the shock of Mabilog when despite all that, he was unjustly and baselessly included in the narcolist – a list so riddled with errors that even Duterte himself admitted its inaccuracies. Mabilog made it clear: his inclusion was never about drugs; it was about politics. His real “crime”? Being related to former Senator Frank Drilon, a vocal critic of Duterte and refusing to bow to Duterte’s whims during the presidential campaign. What’s more absurd – Duterte held a petty grudge over a brownout during a campaign rally in Iloilo which was blamed on him.
And then came the threats where Duterte publicly threatened Mabilog’s life in several public broadcasts in 2017. These weren’t empty words, especially when backed by Duterte’s bloody drug war, where thousands lost their lives. Even more disturbing, Mabilog recounted, was how just before a meeting with Bato dela Rosa at Camp Crame, he received a phone call from a PNP Colonel that “sent shivers down his spine” warning him not to go – unless he wanted to die. The message was clear: Duterte wanted him out of the picture, one way or another.
Is it any wonder that Mabilog fled the country? We can’t help but agree with Mabilog – “flight is guilt” does not apply here. Anyone in Mabilog’s shoes would have done the same thing. His exile isn’t a mark of guilt; it’s a testament to how dangerous Duterte’s vendetta really was.
What’s clear is that Duterte’s law enforcement agencies became nothing more than enablers of his warped, politically motivated agenda. It is possible thatDuterte couldn’t stand the idea of someone like Mabilog – a successful, internationally recognized mayor – was overshadowing him so that he tried to wipe Mabilog off the map.
