PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday called out Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog anew, this time, threatening the latter that he was his "next" target.
“So the mayor of Iloilo City, I identified him, this is broadcast, I said you’re next. You’re next,” Duterte told Mabilog, who he repeatedly accused of having connections to drug syndicates.
The Chief Executive made the pronouncement at the commemorative session of Southeast Asian bloc’s Law Association Governing Council held at Palace’s Rizal Hall.
Mabilog left the country on August 31 after Duterte repeatedly warned Mabilog to end his drug ties or else, the latter may be killed if he continues his drug-related activities.
The Iloilo City mayor's wife and children also went overseas so as not to risk their safety.
Mabilog went on sick leave until the end of October, citing health concerns.
Duterte, however, alluded on September 22 that Mabilog merely went into hiding for fears that he might “suffer the same fate” with slain Ozamiz Reynaldo Parojinog, who was killed in a police anti-drug operation.
The President claimed Mabilog was afraid because he was the “number one” coddler of drug syndicates in the country, turning Iloilo City into a “most shabulized” area.
The government’s bloody drug war has claimed the lives of thousands of alleged drug personalities, including Parojinog and Albuera mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr.
Parojinog, Espinosa, and Mabilog were all identified by Duterte as government officials involved in drug trade. (VoxPop Philippines)
