Graft raps filed vs ex-Iloilo mayor Mabilog

MANILA, Philippines — Former Iloilo City mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog is facing graft charges in connection with a towing services deal that the city government entered into with a company that he allegedly owned.

The Office of the Ombudsman filed charges for violation of Section 3 (h) of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act against Mabilog and Councilor Plaridel Nava II before the Sandiganbayan on March 9.

The ombudsman said the city government entered into a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with 3L Towing Services in January 2015 for clamping and towing of illegally parked vehicles in the city.

Under the MOA, 70 percent of the fines collected will be given to the towing company and 30 percent to the city government.

The ombudsman said investigation showed that Mabilog owned 3L as the company’s named proprietress, a certain Leny Garcia, was a dummy owner.

The ombudsman said Mabilog contributed P500,000 as initial capital of the towing company.

Graft probers said Nava, on the other hand, looked for wheel clamps and prepared the documents for 3L’s registration with the Department of Trade and Industry and Bureau of Internal Revenue.

The graft agency noted that Nava,  ”to the detriment of public service” and ”with 3L Towing Services in mind,” sponsored a city ordinance allowing a private firm that owns wheel clamps to enter into a MOA with the city government.

The ombudsman recommended bail of P90,000 each.

Mabilog fled the country in 2017 after he was tagged by then president Rodrigo Duterte in the illegal drug trade.

In the same year, the ombudsman ordered Mabilog’s dismissal for serious dishonesty over his alleged questionable wealth amounting to P8.9 million.

In 2018, the ombudsman issued another dismissal order against Mabilog in connection with the alleged anomalous towing services deal.