Iloilo City Mayor Mabilog faces another graft raps
Another graft charges were filed against Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog relative to the memorandum of agreement he entered into with 3L Towing Services in enforcing the city’s ordinance against on-road and sidewalk parking.
Former Iloilo provincial administrator Manuel “Boy” Mejorada, in an 8-page complaint filed yesterday at the Office of the Ombudsman-Iloilo Field Office, accused Mabilog of dishonesty, grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.
Mejorada alleged that the mayor blatantly disregarded the transparency and competitiveness principles found in Republic Act 7718 — governing joint venture agreements between government agencies or local government units and the private sector — for entering into the contract without undergoing a competitive bidding.
He also asked the Ombudsman to place Mabilog under a six-month preventive suspension to prevent him from unduly influencing witnesses and tampering with the official records of the transaction.
Mejorada claimed that Mabilog, in signing the contract, gave unwarranted benefits to 3L Towing Services and caused undue injury to the Iloilo City government because it deprived the LGU the opportunity to find better terms and conditions.
Mejorada also alleged that Mabilog was guilty of dishonesty because of the blatant lies he told the public through the media that he signed the contract inadvertently and that he was not fully apprised of its contents.
He further accused Mabilog of lapses when the latter allegedly lied to the media the contract underwent a multi-step process of review and approval by the City Council
The “wanton disregard of established procedures” laid down under R.A. 7718 made Mabilog liable of grave misconduct, Mejorada alleged.
Last March, Mejorada filed a graft complaint against Mabilog for allegedly causing the disbursement of public funds to a private company owned by the latter’s brother in 2008 and 2009, in the guise of financial aid to an English-Language proficiency program for public school teachers.
Last year, Mejorada also sued Mabilog for allegedly amassing unexplained wealth and abusing his position to build a business empire in his jurisdiction.