ILOILO CITY — President Rodrigo Duterte has again reminded local chief executives who are linked into the illegal drug trade to “better shape up.”
In the middle of his more than an hour speech before an audience of about 3,000 Philippine Councilors League (PCL) members attending the national convention at the Iloilo Convention Center, the President turned to incumbent Iloilo City Mayor Jose Espinosa III and asked about the whereabouts of his predecessor.
Without mentioning the name, the President asked: “Saan na iyong pinalitan mo, Mayor (Where is the man that you replaced, Mayor?).
Espinosa succeeded former mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog who was dismissed by the Office of the Ombudsman last year for his questionable Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Networth.
The President emphasized that the fight against illegal drugs has been his advocacy when he campaigned for the 2016 polls.
“Yang’ droga na ‘yan,talagang hindi ko kaya ‘yan, (I really can’t stand drugs),” he said.
Dismissed Mabilog is one of the narco-politicians named by President Duterte.
Mabilog reportedly left the country August 2017 but his whereabouts remain unknown. (Cindy Ferrer/PNA)
