Ombudsman orders Mabilog’s dismissal over unexplained wealth

The Office of the Ombudsman has meted Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog the penalty of dismissal from service after finding him guilty of serious dishonesty in relation to his “unlawful acquisition of wealth.” (Photo: Jed Patrick E. Mabilog/Facebook)

The Office of the Ombudsman had ordered the dismissal from service of Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog after finding him guilty of serious dishonesty in relation to his “unlawful acquisition of wealth.”

In a 13-page resolution dated August 29, the anti-graft body handed down the accessory penalties of forfeiture of retirement benefits, cancellation of civil service eligibility, and perpetual disqualification from holding public office.

The resolution was signed by graft investigation and prosecution officer Rachel Cariaga-Farila and was approved by Overall Deputy Ombudsman Melchor Arthur Carandang on October 6.

The case rooted from the complaint filed by Manuel Mejorada, who had accused Mabilog of acquiring nearly P9-million increase as shown in his 2012 and 2013 Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net worth (SALN).

According to his SALN, Mabilog’s net worth grew to P68.3-million in 2013 from P59.4-million in 2012.

Mejorada said the mayor’s income as public official and even as a businessman cannot justify the increase amounting to P8, 981, 082.52

“No businessman can generate a net income of almost one-half of equity investments as in respondent’s case where his net worth amounted to 45 percent of his declared stock equities and investments,” the ruling read.

Mabilog asserted that the increase of P8.9-million in his net worth is largely due to his wife’s income who is a comptroller in Canada and his other investments.

The Ombudsman’s decision noted that Mabilog had submitted proof on the lawful source of his wife’s income from 2007 to 2009 and from 2010 to 2012.

However, the Ombudsman pointed out that Mabilog failed to submit evidence of his wife’s income in Canada for 2013 and failed to submit proof of such investments.

“Despite opportunities given to respondent to rebut complainant’s assertion of unlawful wealth, he still failed to sufficiently explain/answer how he was able to acquire properties, the amounts of which are manifestly out of proportion to his salaries and other lawful income; thus, there is prima facie evidence of unexplained wealth,” the decision read.

The Ombudsman added that Mabilog’s failure to submit evidence only shows his “malicious intent to conceal the truth.”

“Simply, his failure to properly account or explain his sources of income establishes the presence of malicious intent to conceal the truth, causing grave prejudice to the government,” the anti-graft body said.

In a speech on Wednesday, President Rodrigo Duterte accused Mabilog of having drug connections, and told him “you’re next.”

“The mayor of Iloilo City, I identified him, I said: You’re next, you’re next,” Duterte said during the commemorative session and concert program of the Association of Southeast Asean Nations Law Association (ALA) in Malacañang.

The President did not clarify what he meant by saying “you’re next.”

Meanwhile, Duterte referred to the deaths of ‘narco-politicians’ Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa and Ozamiz City Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog while giving a stark warning to Mabilog.