Ex-Iloilo mayor denies drug allegations, debunks Duterte ‘narco list’

Former Iloilo mayor Jed Mabilog, who was placed in Duterte's drug list, denied his involvement in the illegal drug trade saying that the accusations were “baseless” and “unverified.” 

“I declare that I was not and never will be a drug protector,” Mabilog said. 

During a House quad-committee probe on Thursday, Mabilog revealed that the accusations against him were part of a plot to implicate then-senators Mar Roxas and Franklin Drilon to the illegal drug business. 

“It’s just that after that call my Philippine cellphone rang, this time it was another general, his voice was grim: Mayor, do not return, your life is in danger. The accusations against you are all fabricated, but if you go to Crame, you’ll be forced to point fingers to an opposition senator and a former presidential candidate as drug lords,” he said. 

The former Iloilo mayor was tagged as a “major drug protector” by former president Rodrigo Duterte on Aug. 7, 2016. However, it was only 14 months after the announcement that he was included in the official drug list. 

A year after Mabilog’s name was included in the former president’s list, the Regional Adjudication Committee and then-PDEA regional director Gil Pabilona and city police director Col. Remus Cañeso said Mabilog is not part of their narco list. 

In December 2016, there were 3,363 persons under the President’s drug list, according to Dir. Gen. Moro Virgilio Lazo. 

Lazo also confirmed that Mabilog is not included in their watchlist. 

The list increased to 6,191 on Sept. 28, 2017, it jumped by 30 on Oct. 19 which included the name of Mabilog. 

Abang Lingkod party-list Rep. Joseph Stephen Paduano said Mabilog’s presence in Duterte’s drug list was politically motivated, recalling an official’s statement that the list did not involve vetting and validation. 

“It is all about politics. Kaya yung Duterte’s list again, from the statement of Colonel Espinido, it [did not] go through vetting and validation. ‘Pag kalaban ka sa pulitika nasa listahan ka.” 

No drug-related case has been filed against Mabilog until now. 

Due to death threats from then-president Duterte, Mabilog decided not to go back to the country after a speaking engagement in Japan in 2017. 

However, in August 2017, he was to meet at Camp Crame with former Philippine National Police chief and current senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa. 

After he and his wife received a warning telling him his life was in danger, Mabilog returned to Japan the next day. 

“I made a call and spoke to General Bato who expressed his sympathy. He was talking to me in Bisaya. He told me he knew I was innocent, that I wasn’t involved in illegal drugs, and he promised to help me,” he said. 

Mabilog returned to the country on Tuesday, Sept. 10, after seeking asylum in the United States for seven years due to the illegal drugs allegation. He has since then surrendered under the National Bureau of Investigation. 

Mabilog alleged that his lack of support for Duterte in the 2016 elections led him to be included in the narcolist. 

Roxas won by landslide in Iloilo city with 657,940 votes, while Duterte only garnered 146,294 votes. 

While Mabilog might not have drug-related cases filed against him, he does have a corruption allegation against him. 

Councilor Plaridel Nava II filed a graft charge against him before the Sandiganbayan due to an alleged intervention in the awarding of a government contract. 

Mabilog posted bail on Wednesday, Sep. 11, a day after his arrival in the country.