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BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
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Sunday, October 29, 2017
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ILOILO City – It doesn’t matter where Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog is or whether or not he returns to the country.
The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) will serve the suspension order that the Office of the Ombudsman issued against him as soon as possible, said Regional Director Anthony Nuyda.
The Ombudsman has found Mabilog guilty of “serious dishonesty relative to his unlawful acquisition of wealth,” which is punishable by dismissal from the service.
“We will implement it kahit na on leave siya or out of the country,” stressed Nuyda.
But the DILG Region 6 has not yet received any directive from its central office in Manila pertaining to the dismissal order.
“There should be a directive from our secretary directing us to implement [the order],” Nuyda said of their procedure. “That is the only time that we could implement it. As of today (Friday), wala pa kaming nare-receive.”
The DILG is currently headed by Catalino Cuy as officer-in-charge.
“The procedure po is to serve it sa office niya or sa residence niya,” said Nuyda.
Mabilog – currently abroad on an extended sick leave – lives in Barangay Tap-oc in the district of Molo.
His extended sick leave is ending tomorrow.
He left on Aug. 30 for international conferences in Japan and Malaysia and had not returned, opting instead to file for a sick leave through city hall subordinates.
It remains unclear if Mabilog is returning to the country.
His spokesperson, Atty. Mark Piad, told Panay News last Wednesday he was not sure of the mayor’s return.
“We will not wait for him (Mabilog),” Nuyda said. “Then we will install the vice mayor (as mayor) and the No. 1 city councilor will act as the vice mayor.”
Vice Mayor Jose Espinosa III is currently heading the city government as acting mayor.
Mabilog failed to explain the P8.9-million increase in his net worth from 2012 to 2013, the Ombudsman said, citing the mayor’s statement of assets, liabilities and net worth in those years.
Atty. Joenar Pueblo, Mabilog’s legal counsel, said they will seek from the Court of Appeals this week a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the Ombudsman order.
They will also appeal to the DILG to wait for the appellate court’s decision on their petition before enforcing the dismissal order, Pueblo said.
“The only thing we can do is pangabayon ta sa DILG, lihog angan-anganon kon may TRO or wala,” the lawyer said. “Kon wala, te anhon ta na abi.”
Without a TRO, Pueblo said they have no choice but to accept the Ombudsman’s ruling. And if other legal remedies fail, he said he would advise Mabilog to peacefully vacate the mayoral post.
“I think he (Mabilog) will [heed my advice],” said the lawyer. “He is now on his last term. Knowing Mayor Jed, he is not really into the power thing.”
Earlier Pueblo expressed confidence that Mabilog will be able to seek relief from the Court of Appeals. “We are quite confident,” he said. “We believe we have a very good case.”
According to the lawyer, the Ombudsman decision may possibly be considered null and void for violation of the Ombudsman law.
Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales should have signed the order herself – not Overall Deputy Ombudsman Melchor Arthur Carandang – since Mabilog was a local government officer, said Pueblo.
“May provision sa Ombudsman law that with regard to officials of municipalities and local governments, the Ombudsman is the one who signs orders and resolutions. Wala sia may ginhambal nga deputy or overall deputy Ombudsman, only the Ombudsman,” he said.
Pueblo stressed that Mabilog deserved the best legal protections.
“He has done a lot for our city,” said the lawyer. “I cannot speak on other people’s perceptions about him. What we know is Mayor Jed has given a lot for the city that he loves [and] which we also love.”/PN
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