Iloilo City Mayor Jose Espinosa III recently created a review committee in order to vet the individuals appointed by his predecessor, dismissed Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog

The current mayor has since retained Atty. Hernando Galvez and Atty. Lorna Laurea as city administrator and city legal officer, respectively; however, there are around 16 additional appointments that need to be reviewed.

Mabilog was previously criticized for excessively appointing executive assistants as there were already existing counterparts within City Hall.

In addition, Espinosa’s order includes a review of department heads.

Mabilog was dismissed on grounds of “serious dishonesty” and “unlawful acquisition of wealth” after the Office of 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.

The dismissed city official has also been out of the country since the end of August./WDJ