After ordering the dismissal of former Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog last October on grounds of “serious dishonesty” and “unlawful acquisition of wealth,” the Office of the Ombudsman yesterday released a decision that found the former city official guilty of grave misconduct in connection with a deal made with 3L Towing Services.
“It is undisputed that [the] respondent entered into a memorandum of agreement on behalf of the city government with 3L for the implementation of the city’s clamping ordinance without compliance with any procurement process,” affirmed Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales.
The case was brought forward by City Councilor Plaridel Nava, who accused the former mayor of owning 3L Towing Services and installing a certain Leny Garcia as a “dummy owner.”
Mabilog was penalized with perpetual disqualification, making him ineligible to seek public office in the future, as a result of his earlier dismissal, 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.
Mabilog has yet to return to the city since last year after he took two trips overseas, followed by a sick leave. He is said to be in Canada with his wife, who is a Canadian citizen.
Back in October 2017, after stating Mabilog would return to Iloilo City at the end of September, following a sick leave that was initiated on September 11, which immediately followed two consecutive trips overseas, spokesperson for the mayor, Atty. Mark Piad, said the city official’s sick leave would be extended for another 30 days.
The former mayor left the country a day before the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) conducted an inspection of his waterfront home, which overlooks the Iloilo River./WDJ