Mayor Mabilog faces new graft rap

CEBU, Philippines - Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog yesterday was sued with another graft complaint for allegedly causing the disbursement of public funds to a private company owned by his brother in 2008 and 2009.

Former Iloilo provincial administrator Manuel Mejorada filed the six-page complaint at the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas’s Iloilo Field Office, accusing Mabilog of using public money allegedly in the guise of financial aid to an English-language proficiency program for public school teachers.

Mabilog, during his term as vice mayor, used his Journey toward English Development for Mentors program, involving P435,000 as a grant from the city government to Victory Educational Services Incorporated, which was reportedly owned by his brother Jeffrey Christian Mabilog, alleged Mejorada.

The accuser used Mabilog’s testimony in court in another case, in admitting of knowing the grant recipient firm, but Mejorada believed Jeffrey Christian was only a dummy of the then vice mayor.

"It is tantamount to what is known in the dialect as “hulidap,” a faked robbery; respondent Mabilog manipulated the principal characters in this drama to set the stage for the disbursement of public funds to his own company," Mejorada alleged.

“It is a clear case of conflict of interest punishable under Section 3 (h) of Republic Act 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act,” said Mejorada, adding that Mabilog also committed malversation of public funds, under Article 217 of the Revised Penal Code.

Aside from the criminal cases, Mejorada also filed an administrative case against Mabilog for dishonesty, grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to public service.

Last year, Mejorada sued Mabilog for allegedly amassing unexplained wealth and abusing his position to build a business empire in his jurisdiction.

Mejorada was also the complainant against Senate President Franklin Drilon, two Cabinet members and several others in the Department of Public Works and Highways for “plunder, malversation of public funds and other offenses” in connection with the alleged overpricing in the construction of the Iloilo Convention Center. (FREEMAN)