Former Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog yesterday expressed his willingness to testify before the International Criminal Court (ICC) to share his experiences and knowledge about former President Rodrigo Duterte’s anti-drug campaign.
He revealed that he had received death threats after he was linked to the drug trade which forced him to flee the country seven years ago.
Mabilog denied allegations of involvement in illegal drug activities, pointing out that “the narco-list was later found to be inaccurate on its face after it was proven that two of the individuals included in the said list were long dead before its release, and one name was described to be a Member of the House of Representatives despite not having been elected to any public office.”
In his affidavit during the Quad Comm hearing, Mabilog said that “former President Duterte himself acknowledged the unreliability of his narco-list when he subsequently removed the name of the Alcalas of Quezon Province from the list. Also, the Court of Appeals in Veloso v. PDEA et al., CA-G.R. SP No. 00005-WHD, June 8, 2021, even ordered all law enforcement agencies to remove Vicent S.E. Veloso’s name from the narco-list after finding that its inclusion therein violated his right to due process.”.
Mabilog also disclosed his former spokesperson, SMNI host Jeffrey Celiz, also known as Ka Eric, was included in the controversial “narco-list” presented by former President Rodrigo Duterte at the height of his administration’s war on drugs.
Mabilog explained he terminated Celiz’s services after learning that he used his name in a vacation in Boracao without permission.
Responding to questions about his involvement in the drug trade, Mabilog defended his actions during his tenure as mayor. He explained that he relied on law enforcement agencies like the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) to enforce anti-drug laws.
Meanwhile, the PNP has initiated an investigation into Mabilog’s claims of death threats. PNP Chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil stated that the Police Security and Protection Group (PSPG) will lead the probe and provide security if needed.
After seven years in exile, Mabilog made a highly anticipated return to Iloilo City. He was greeted warmly by friends,political allies, and family members upon arriving at the Iloilo International Airport.
Mabilog visited the City Hall and met with incumbent Mayor Jerry Treñas, a long-time political ally. Treñas welcomed Mabilog’s return and expressed his continued support.
While Mabilog’s return sparked political speculation, both he and Treñas denied having any immediate plans for political involvement. Treñas emphasized that the focus should be on Mabilog’s return and the positive impact it could have on the city.
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