Duterte: Ombudsman's order dismissing Mabilog 'a very late gesture of support'

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday described the ombudsman’s decision to order the dismissal of Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog as a “very, very late gesture” to support him amid his row with the anti-graft body.

“Kita mo si Mabilog... Wala na. The Ombudsman, in a very, very late gesture, para kunwari na sinuportahan nila ako, fired, stripped him of his mayorship,” Duterte said in an impromptu speech in Davao City.

“Basta ako, trabaho ko, trabaho ko. Period,” he added.

On leave and said to be out of the country after being linked to drugs by Duterte, Mabilog has been ordered dismissed by the Office of the Ombudsman for “serious dishonesty” in connection with his “unlawful acquisition of wealth.”

READ: Iloilo ‘narco mayor’ sacked

Mabilog filed a leave of absence from September 11 to 30 purportedly for health reasons. He later filed for a 30-day extension of his “sick leave.”

On Wednesday, Duterte concluded his remarks about the killing of alleged narco-politicians as well as Mabilog’s own drug links with the words, “You’re next.” The president did not say what he meant exactly.

In a 13-page decision, the ombudsman also ordered the cancellation of Mabilog’s civil service eligibility, forfeiture of retirement benefits and perpetual disqualification from public office.

Calling it absurd and unfair, the Mabilog’s camp vowed to appeal the decision of the Office of the Ombudsman ordering the mayor’s dismissal.

Lawyer Joenar Pueblo, Mabilog’s legal counsel, said they would file a petition for certiorari under Rule 65 of the Revised Rules of Court, with a prayer for temporary restraining order before the Court of Appeals. Pueblo said he is expected to file the petition by October 30 or November 2.

The ombudsman said the dismissal order is immediately executory.

 “The ombudsman directed the DILG (Department of the Interior and Local Government) to immediately implement the dismissal order against Mayor Mabilog,” said the ombudsman in a Twitter post on Friday.

Meanwhile, Duterte had been at loggerheads with the ombudsman after the constitutional body, acting on a case filed by Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, announced that it was launching a fact-finding probe into the alleged billions that the first family supposedly owned.

Duterte recently said he would not recognize the investigation to be conducted by the ombudsman as he accused the agency of corruption and “selective justice.”

READ: Duterte threatens to arrest Ombudsman officials dodging probe