Source: Rappler | 2024.09.19
Ex-Iloilo mayor sought US asylum to prevent Duterte from falsely linking Roxas, Drilon to drugs

In his affidavit seen by Rappler, Mabilog said that when he was in Japan, then-Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Ronald dela Rosa called him and told him to come home, telling him that he believes Mabilog was innocent. But shortly after the call, another unnamed PNP general called and warned the former Iloilo mayor.

“His voice was grim. ‘Do not return,’ he said. ‘Your life is in danger. The accusations against you are all fabricated, but if you go to Crame, you’ll be forced to point fingers at an opposition senator and a former presidential candidate as drug lords,'” Mabilog said.

Abang Lingkod Representative Joseph Paduano asked Mabilog if the two personalities he was referring to were Roxas and Drilon, to which the former mayor replied in the affirmative. Roxas was the Liberal Party’s standard bearer in 2016, while Drilon served as an opposition lawmaker during Duterte’s term.

Mabilog ended up in Duterte’s narco list at the same time that other local officials were also tagged as alleged narco politicians. These personalities include Ozamiz City Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog and Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa, who were both killed at the height of the drug war.