Despite the recent dismissal of Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog by the Office of the Ombudsman, his successor, Vice Mayor Jose Espinosa III, recently announced city administrator, Atty. Hernando Galvez, would keep the post in his administration.

An oath of office was administered for the city official yesterday.

Last week, Mabilog was dismissed on grounds of “serious dishonesty” and “unlawful acquisition of wealth” after the Ombudsman found, in the span of one year, Mabilog’s wealth increased by around P8.9 million, citing his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) for 2012 quoting assets of P59.35 million, which increased to P68.34 million the following year.

With Mabilog out of the country since August, Espinosa assumed full mayoral powers, citing Section 46 of RA 7160, or the Local Government Code of the Philippines, which outlines the policies regarding the temporary vacancy of office for local chief executives.

Last month, after stating Mabilog would return to Iloilo City at the end of September, spokesperson for the mayor, Atty. Mark Piad, said the city official’s sick leave would be extended another 30 days.

Prior to announcing his sick leave, it was revealed the mayor served as speaker at a forum in Japan and attended a summit in Malaysia.

Incidentally, the mayor left the country the day before the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) conducted an inspection of his waterfront home, which overlooks the Iloilo River./WDJ