Duterte orders lifestyle check on Mabilog
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to conduct a lifestyle check on Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog.
At the mass oath-taking of new star-rank police officers Wednesday afternoon, Duterte revealed that he discovered that Mabilog is living in a house similar to a “Palace.”
“He may be a son of a wealthy people. I instructed the NBI and BIR to carry out a lifestyle check because he has a Palace,” he added.
Duterte said Mabilog, who he identified as a “narco-politician,” sought a meeting with him after he announced the reassignment of Chief Inspector Jovie Espenido to Iloilo City amid speculations that Mabilog is the next target of the government’s war on drugs.
“Mabilog said he wanted to talk to me. I’d like to check [his properties]. His house is like a Palace,” Duterte said in a speech he delivered at Palace’s Rizal Hall.
Espenido was the chief of police when Albuera, Leyte mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr. and Ozamiz City mayor Reynaldo Parojinog were killed by police officers during law enforcement operations. The two mayors were named by Duterte as government officials involved in the illicit drugs trade.
In a radio interview, Mabilog said he wanted to talk to Duterte to personally present his track record.
On Monday, Duterte warned the Iloilo mayor to end his drug connections, noting that individuals involved in narcotics trade may face death under his watch.
“I will tell you again, mayor you are accused [of being involved in narcotics trade]. For the longest time, you are included in the updated [drug] list. Frankly, you may want to stop your [drug] connections while nothing is happening yet,” Duterte told reporters in Pampanga on Tuesday.