(Eagle News) — Iloilo Mayor Jed Mabilog, who was tagged by President Rodrigo Duterte as a “narcopolitician,” and another city official are facing graft complaints for entering into an allegedly anomalous towing services agreement in 2015.
In a statement on Monday, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales said there was probable cause to charge Mabilog and Sangguniang Panlungsod member Plaridel Nava II with one count of violation of Section 3 (h) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act each after they were found to have a “pecuniary interest” in 3L Towing Services.
3L signed a memorandum of agreement with the city government for the implementation of the clamping ordinance.
Nava was included in the indictment even if he originally acted as a complainant accusing Mabilog of “employ(ing) his services to perpetuate and consummate his illegitimate, immoral, dishonest and underground acts and transactions with private groups and corporate personalities doing or intending to do business in the city of Iloilo by using his power and influence as the chief executive of the city government.”
Nava–who said he was ordered by Mabilog to look for a dummy owner—sought the Ombudsman’s help after 3L proprietor Leny Garcia told the Iloilo mayor three months later that the MOA was facing “legal issues” that warrant a withdrawal.
Mabilog has denied Nava’s allegations.
Conspiracy
According to the Ombudsman, while Mabilog and Nava still “pointed to each other as the true owner of 3L,” one thing was certain–that “both colluded to create 3L, to get Garcia to act as its dummy owner, to have the business registered with the (Department of Trade and Industry) and the (Bureau of Internal Revenue), to secure its business and mayor’s permits, and to have awarded the MOA with the city government without going through a competitive process.”
The Ombudsman noted that Nava had even admitted that he “sponsored the wheel clamping ordinance as a supplement to the towing ordinance,” and proposed amendments to the towing ordinance with 3L in mind.
He has ordered a lifestyle check on the Iloilo mayor, who he said has a “palace-like” mansion.
Mabilog has denied the allegations.
He has yet to return to the country after going on official leave in Japan, and then later on sick leave, which his lawyer said was filed for the mayor to “recuperate” from a diabetes 2 diagnosis and from “stress.”