Roque: Duterte's Death Threat to Former Iloilo Mayor Mabilog is not Literally to Kill him

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Iloilo City, Philippines - President Rodrigo Duterte’s statement that he would “really kill” sacked Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog for alleged involvement in drugs should not be taken literally, Mr. Duterte’s spokesperson said.

Roque explained on what the President meant to say was he was emphasizing the point that all those officials who committed crimes and being part of drug crimes should be punished. 

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It was last Wednesday when President Duterte said that there was a local official who was been linked on a drug trade who fled the country due to fears for his and his family’s life.

Duterte named former Iloilo Mayor Jed Mabilog as one of the so-called Narco Politicians i the country. He said that the formed Mayor was involved as protector of the drug trade, but the former Mayor Mabilog denied the accusations. 

“‘Yung isa hindi na umuwi, si Magtibay (sic), I have been looking for him. Hindi na siya umuwi kasi papatayin ko talaga siya,” Duterte said in a speech in Tarlac City.

Since September 2017, Mabilog is no where to be found inside the Philippines, his supposed sick leave started last September. But in October 2017, the Office of the Ombudsman announced the dismissal of Mabilog, this was due to his over dishonesty for failing to properly account for his sources of wealth in his Statement of Assets Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN). 

“He did not come home because I will really kill him,” the President said during the rites for the 145th founding anniversary of Tarlac City.

Duterte clarified that not only the poor were being targeted in his mission to fight drug war in the country, but also he is against those narco-politicians. 

“Sabihin nila, ‘bakit si Duterte pinapatay lang niya ‘yung mahihirap?’ You are wrong. Hindi ko pinapatay ang mahihirap. Ang pinapatay kong mahihirap ‘yung kriminal,” Duterte said.

But under the Administration of President Duterte, there were several "narco-politicians" have been killed in supposed legitimate police operations, namely Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr. and Ozamiz City Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog.

But on Mabilog case, to be clear by Roque, it was not the said killing of Mabilog really meant by the President. Though there were already legal remedies are available for the former mayor. 

Up until now, there is still no case filled to Mabilog, instead the Administrations wants him to come home and face the accusations against him if he is not guilty in any of these malice pertaining to him regarding his involve crime in drug trades in the country. 

The spokesperson also reacted on the Facebook posted by Mabilog's wife, Marivic. Calling President Duterte a "Madman"

“I don’t respond to people who are not worthy of response,” he said. “She’s one of them.”

Photo Credits to Owner

Photo Credits to Owner

On previous post of Mabilog's Wife, she posted that they were really afraid to go home because the President might really kill them when they go home. 


Source: ABSCBN, Inquirer