Gov’t not after Iloilo mayor following deployment of anti-drug cop – Abella

Presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella yesterday dispelled speculations the government was trying to single out Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog following the deployment of anti-drug cop Chief Inspector Jovie Espenido to the province.

Abella said that President Duterte is willing to meet with Mayor Mabilog amid allegations that Iloilo is the “most shabulized” city in the country.

“We don’t have word if there’s any meeting, if any meeting has actually been set up. But I’m sure if he goes to the usual... usual channels of appointments, then I’m sure the President will be... willing to sit with him if and when, yes,” Abella said during a Palace news conference.

Mabilog had earlier reportedly sought a meeting with the President to explain his side after being publicly implicated in the illegal drug trade.

Abella explained that Espenido’s deployment to Iloilo should not be misconstrued as deliberately targeting the town mayor. He said Espenido is part of the “whole government approach” on drug prevention and rehabilitation.

The President recently warned Mabilog to end his reported drug connections or else risk facing the force of the law. He confirmed that the mayor is included in his list of suspected narcopoliticians.

Earlier, the President announced he was assigning Espenido, the top cop in his anti-drug operations, to Iloilo province. Espenido had previously served as police chief of Albuera, Leyte, and Ozamiz City, led by mayors who later ended up dead in the government’s war on drugs.

Asked about the reason behind Espenido’s deployment to Iloilo, Abella said the President has his own reason, intelligence information, and plan of action.

On whether Espenido’s assignment indicated the grave drug problem in Iloilo, Abella said: “I suppose the best we can say at this stage is that it is a sign that his work in Ozamiz is done.”

Abella has also called on the public to rally behind the govnerment’s antidrug operations.

“We call on our people to unite with the state in our campaign against drugs through both police action and drug prevention and rehab with full respect for law – for human rights and the rule of law, which is the pledge of the President,” he said.