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[av_heading heading=’ Prayer rally for Jed, rule of law today ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=’30’ subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
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ILOILO City – Concerned residents and supporters of beleaguered Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog are holding a prayer rally at 5 p.m. today in front of city hall.
A Facebook post about the prayer rally read: “This aims to show the Philippines how peace-loving we Ilonggos are.”
According to City Administrator Hernando Galvez, the city government has nothing to do with the rally. He learned about it only yesterday morning on social media, he added.
The city government, however, won’t stop or discourage city hall employees from joining, said Galvez.
“I always respect freedom of religion…Wala kami sanction kon sin-o ang mangamuyo,” he stressed.
On Tuesday, Mabilog appealed for prayers a day after President Rodrigo Duterte issued him a strong warning to cut supposed ties with drug personalities.
Duterte also reassigned to Iloilo City the police chief of Ozamiz City, Chief Inspector Jovie Espenido, who led raids that resulted to the death of that city’s mayor, Reynaldo Parojinog, on July 30.
Like Mabilog, Parojinog was also linked by Duterte to illegal drugs.
Mabilog denied being a drug protector, pusher or user.
“Every time we talk, the mayor always says he has nothing to fear because he believes he is right, God is with him and the Ilonggos trust him,” said Galvez.
Amid the allegation, Mabilog directed all department heads, heads of offices and employees to “ensure an effective delivery of services and to make sure there is no delay, and that all clients will be served with respect,” according to Galvez.
The city administrator believed Mabilog would overcome his current challenge.
He lamented that despite the mayor’s efforts to fight illegal drugs, “there are still people who refuse to believe in him.”
“But I think this will only serve as a challenge and motivation for him and for all of us to prove that what is being alleged is wrong,” said Galvez.
He defended Mabilog from the President’s accusation.
“In a short period of time that I have worked with Mayor Mabilog since I was appointed last year, I could attest that the accusations are wrong. Mayor Mabilog is a loveable father not only to his children but to all Ilonggos, too, and he is the No. 1 fighter of illegal drugs in Iloilo City,” said Galvez./PN
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