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BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
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Wednesday, March 22, 2017
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ILOILO City – Without fanfare a few months ago, Councilor Plaridel Nava withdrew the libel complaint he filed against Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog.
“Waay man ta ginansyahon sagad sang away…indi man na mapuslan sang pumolyo,” Nava told Panay News.
Nava filed the complaint in December 2015 following Mabilog’s submission of a “white paper” to the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) for investigation.
The paper tagged Nava as one of the leaders of a local drug syndicate involved in unsolved crimes.
In dropping his libel complaint, Nava said he wanted to “unload” himself of “extra baggage.” He planned to migrate abroad, he said.
“I need to experience this so-called peace of mind, something I have not had for so long a time,” said Nava.
Early this month, Nava claimed there was a plot to have him killed and he linked Cong. Jerry Treñas to it. The congressman denied this, however.
Nava said he was grateful that the people of Iloilo City reelected him last year in the same manner they gave Mabilog their vote of confidence.
“In effect, while our electorate wanted a fiscalizer in the city, they also do not believe that Jed is involved in illegal drugs and that he is corrupt. And so I must respect the mandate of the people. They have loudly spoken at once,” said Nava.
June last year, Nava said notorious gunmen from Ozamis City, Misamis Occidental were offered P5 million to kill him. Citing his informant from the “underworld”, the councilor said a drug lord made the offer.
“I have said my piece and I have done my part telling the public about issues confronting the city. Illegal drugs and corruption were my primary battle-cry in the last elections,” said Nava.
This was not the first time Nava said he was leaving the Sangguniang Panlungsod, or Iloilo City for that matter. July last year, he said he was applying for a post at the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency under the Duterte administration.
In December 2013 after successfully parrying a legal challenge – his wife accused him of domestic violence – Nava also announced his plan to quit politics “as my work is not cut for me.” He revealed a plan to move to Canada.
But while he withdrew his libel complaint against Mabilog, Nava clarified he did not do the same to the graft complaints he filed against the city mayor before the Office of the Ombudsman.
“My Ombudsman complaints were imbued with public interest and therefore it must be pursued even in my absence,” said Nava. “I hope the people of Iloilo City will respect my decision.”/PN
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