Mabilog’s flight not end of his legal woes

Mabilog has reportedly escaped the country last year together with his wife and children for security reasons. (Photo: Jed Patrick E. Mabilog/Facebook)

ILOILO CITY — The flight of former City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog from the country is not the end of his legal problems.

This was assured by Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque in his first Malacañang press briefing in this city Sunday afternoon, a sideline to the 5Oth anniversary of the Dinagyang Festival.

“At this point, I would like to assure you that former Mayor Mabilog’s flight from the country is not the end of his legal problems. It probably is only the beginning,” he said,

“There is an ongoing investigation… I can’t comment,” he added.

In 2016, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte divulged that Mabilog was on his “narco list” of politicians involved in the illegal drug trade.

Mabilog has denied the accusations.

When Roque was asked if there were charges filed against Mabilog over his alleged involvement in drug trade, he said that he was not aware of any criminal charge.

“I’m not aware of any criminal charge against former Mayor Mabilog, although I suppose there will have to be one if authorities would want him extradited back to the Philippines,” he said.

Mabilog has reportedly escaped the country last year together with his wife and children for security reasons.

Last October, Mabilog was ordered dismissed by the Office of the Ombudsman having found him “guilty of serious dishonesty relative to his unlawful acquisition of wealth.”

Just recently, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales has meted Mabilog with another dismissal, this time for an anomalous towing deal way back in 2015.

The Ombudsman said Mabilog was found guilty of grave misconduct, serious dishonesty and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.

His dismissal came with the accessory penalties of perpetual disqualification from holding public office, cancellation of eligibility, forfeiture of retirement benefits, and bar from taking the civil service examinations.