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BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
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Thursday. September 14, 2017
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ILOILO City – Until the end of this month, Ilonggos won’t be seeing Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog. He is on sick leave and seeking treatment abroad for diabetes, according to his spokesperson, Atty. Mark Piad.
The mayor, who was expected to return to the city after a three-day conference in Malaysia that ended on Sept. 9, took a sick leave from Sept. 11 to 30, said Piad yesterday.
President Rodrigo Duterte has been increasingly critical of Mabilog whom he accused of being a drug protector. He previously claimed the mayor fled to Japan.
Piad dismissed speculations that supposed threats on the mayor’s life triggered the city’s chief executive to take a sick leave.
“We have received unsolicited information and tips from concerned individuals but nothing is verified. All of those, as of now, are speculation,” stressed Piad.
Mabilog is suffering from diabetes mellitus type 2, probably triggered by stress, among others, stressed Piad.
He confirmed having a “quick” conversation with the mayor through the social media application Messenger on Tuesday.
“Wala ‘ya na-mention kon diin sia particular nga place,” said Piad.
The spokesperson claimed having no idea who filed for sick leave on behalf of Mabilog at the city government’s human resources office.
The medical certificate showed Mabilog was already suffering from diabetes even before he went to Malaysia, said Piad.
‘NOT FLEEING’
He also shot down speculations that Mabilog sought political asylum in Canada.
The mayor’s wife, Maria Victoria, is a Canadian citizen. She confirmed to Panay News through the internet last week that she and her two children have left the Philippines. She, however, declined to say where they were.
“There is no reason for the mayor to seek political asylum, there is no case man…he has nothing to be afraid of…wala man sia may ginatago so there is no need for political asylum,” said Piad.
He previously said Mabilog would be returning to the city by Tuesday or Wednesday this week.
“Because of the stress the good mayor is going through, he will be needing additional time to seek tests for his overall health,” Piad told city hall reporters.
But he said Mabilog did not tell him where the mayor would be seeking medical treatment.
Prior to attending a summit on sustainable urban development in Malaysia where he was one of the resource persons, Mabilog was in Yokohama, Japan last week of August for an international conference on disaster management.
“We understand nga nagapahuway-huway pa sia subong so we just told him to take his time,” said Piad.
He also said Mabilog was with his family.
“I understand wala sia kaagi nga nag-avail sang vacation or sick leave. I think this is also high time for him to spend time with his family kag magpaayo sia,” said Piad. “Gintapos ‘ya lang ang iya commitments.”
While in Japan, Mabilog met with the Ilonggo community and Japanese investors, said Piad.
“As I understand it, the forum was impressed by his presentation. This was why he opted to stay there for a while to confer with delegates. After that, nagderitso na sia sa Malaysia,” he said.
‘HE WILL RETURN’
Piad assured Iloilo City residents Mabilog would be returning.
“He will definitely come back. Mayor Mabiog will return after Sept. 30 or we expect seguro even before that,” he stressed.
Mabilog was thankful to those who support and offer prayers to him, said Piad, “kag tanan nga naga-believe nga the mayor is doing a good job kag wala nagapati sa mga alegasyon against sa iya.”
Even while on sick leave, the mayor will continue to cooperate with agencies tasked to conduct a lifestyle check on him, added Piad.
President Duterte ordered the lifestyle check.
On Aug. 31, a team from the National Bureau of Investigation entered Mabilog’s compound in Molo district for an ocular inspection. That same day, Mabilog and his wife took separate flights to Japan, according to Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella, citing Bureau of Immigration records.
“Before pa mag-travel abroad si Mayor Mabilog, he already said he was willing to cooperate and open to an investigation,” he said.
Last year, the Department of Interior and Local Government’s Task Force Agila investigated Mabilog and other local government officials that Duterte linked to illegal drugs. Piad said the mayor was cooperative.
Before the task force was able to complete its investigation, however, it was dissolved following the firing of then Interior secretary Ismael Sueno in April this year.
The mayor rejected the charge he was coddling drug traffickers.
“With God as my witness, I have never protected anyone, especially in illegal drugs. Never. I will never do that,” he told city hall employees during a speech on Aug. 29.
He said no dirty money was used to build his house that Duterte likened to a palace.
While Mabilog is on leave, Vice Mayor Jose Espinosa III takes over as acting mayor./PN
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