Mabilog extends sick leave for 30 days

ILOILO CITY, Philippines —Saying he still fears for his life, Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog has extended his leave of absence.

Mabilog, who filed a sick leave from Sept. 11 to Sept. 30, did not attend the flag-raising ceremony at the city hall yesterday.

Mabilog’s spokesman, lawyer Mark Piad, later told reporters that the mayor filed a sick leave for 30 more days.

Piad said Mabilog’s application for leave was forwarded to the human resource office on Friday.

“He’s not yet fit to go back to work…due to his medical condition,” Piad said.

Piad said persistent allegations that the mayor is involved in the illegal drug trade is aggravating his condition.

He admitted Mabilog decided to extend his sick leave also for security reasons.

“The threat is quite serious,” Piad said.

He said aside from President Duterte’s statements, some of Mabilog’s friends relayed information on threats to the mayor’s life.

Piad said he has no knowledge on the whereabouts of Mabilog. The mayor’s wife and children have also left the country.

“It is with regret that Mayor Mabilog still cannot return to work. Rest assured that when his condition improves, he will definitely go back,” Piad said.

He said Mabilog is expected to present his medical certificate to justify his extended sick leave.

Not resigning

Despite Mabilog’s predicament, Piad said the mayor is not thinking of resigning from his post.

“Mayor Mabilog has a mandate to the people of Iloilo City. He will stand by it,” he said.

Chief Superintendent Cesar Hawthorne Binag, Western Visayas police chief, assured Mabilog of his and his family’s safety upon their return home.

Piad said they have yet to discuss Mabilog’s security concerns with the police. ”For sure, we will seek an audience with General Binag,” Piad said.

Saying he is suffering from diabetes, Mabilog went on sick leave after attending a conference on disaster management in Japan from Aug. 30 to Sept. 4 and the Urban Environment Accords Summit in Malaysia from Sept. 7 to 9.

The President said Mabilog is scared of going home for fear of suffering the fate of Ozamiz Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog who was slain in a series of raids on the family’s homes in July.