For “unexplained wealth” Journalist files case vs Mayor Mabilog

ILOILO CITY, Philippines — Journalist Manuel "Boy" Mejorada on Thursday filed before the Ombudsman-Iloilo Field Office a 10-page complaint affidavit accusing City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog of hiding the true sources of the latter's income allegedly in violation of the law on statement of assets, liabilities and net worth, or SALN.

Mejorada based his complaint on Mabilog's SALN, which was recently provided to him by the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas.

Mejorada, in his affidavit, alleged that the increase of P9 million in the net worth of Mabilog in the SALN, ending December 31 last year, was "manifestly disproportionate" to his income as a public official and constitutes "unexplained wealth."

He alleged that Mabilog and his wife, Marivic, bought a house and lot property at Barangay Tap-oc in Molo district, this city, for P6 million and reported new investments of about P2.6 million.

Such acquisitions could not be explained by the mayor's income from his businesses, where his equity investments amounted to only P18 milion, alleged Mejorada, a newspaper columnist and a blogger.

Mabilog, he alleged further, also "lied about owing P21 million from a bank in Canada," a matter that Mejorada alleged was a "ploy to disguise the magnitude of his wealth."

Mejorada stated: "For me, if he still has a loan, it should be about half the original amount after seven years and I even doubt if he borrowed from a bank in the first place."

The Mejorada complaint also accused the mayor and his executive assistant for dengue affairs, Patrick Allan Sy, as majority stockholders of the Iloilo One Esplanade Realty Corp. which built and leased a commercial building at the Mandurriao's end of the Iloilo Esplanade.

"Apparently, Mabilog took advantage of his position as local chief executive to secure financial gains for himself in looking for opportunities for investment," he said.

The complaint further accused Mabilog of committing grave misconduct in hiring Sy as executive assistant because the latter's real job is allegedly "to run their businesses."

Sy's name appeared in the tax declaration for One Esplanade along with Iloilo One Esplanade Realty Corp. as owner. He is listed as president of the corporation and corporate secretary in another company, in which he and the mayor are allegedly the majority stockholders.

Mabilog has yet to issue an statement to air his side on the allegations of the Ilonggo journalist. (FREEMAN)