Mabilog’s wife responds: Leave us alone

By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

With President Rodrigo Duterte earlier identifying 46 politicians across the country with suspected drug links, it was also revealed five of the named are elected officials in the Western Visayas.

The president identified them as Culasi Vice Mayor Ariel Alagos, Jr. and Hamtic Mayor Julius Ronald Pacificador of Antique; alongside Maasin Mayor Mariano Malones, Sr., Carles Mayor Siegfred Betita, and former Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog of Iloilo.

There have since been responses made to the accusations.

Betita immediately released a statement over the radio, where he explained it is possible his name would appear because he shares the same last name as the mother of slain-drug lord Melvin Odicta.

He also denied the allegations and claimed his constituents do not believe the president’s accusations.

Meanwhile, Mabilog’s wife, Marivic, also denied the allegations and claimed her husband worked hard to eradicate drugs during his tenure as mayor.

“Why don’t you furnish the media [with] the validated list and the sources of your data?” she questioned. “You think by continually shaming him and lying about him will do him damage?”

“Leave us alone already,” the ex-mayor’s wife added.

Following the list release, the Department of the Interior and Local Government stated they have already filed administrative charges of grave misconduct, conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, conduct unbecoming of a public officer, and gross neglect of duty against the named “narco politicians.”

The agency added, the respondents’ involvement with illegal drugs was evaluated and “judiciously validated” by the Interagency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs, which is chaired by Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, in coordination with the Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines, National Intelligence Coordinating Agency, among others./DGB, WDJ