(Eagle News) — The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the dismissal of Iloilo Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog from government service.
The anti-graft body, in a 13-page decision dated Aug. 29, dismissed Mabilog, who was named a narcopolitician by President Rodrigo Duterte, for serious dishonesty relative to his unlawful acquisition of wealth.
This was after Mabilog failed to explain the almost P9-million increase in his wealth as shown in his 2012 and 2013 Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net worth, the Ombudsman said.
The anti-graft body said the Iloilo mayor, who had argued the money came from his earnings as a businessman before he entered government service and from the earnings of his wife who became vice president of Canada-based Terracom Geotechnique, failed to submit proof of her income from her salary for the year 2013.
It said he also failed to explain where the money used for the business interests declared in his SALN came from.
“His failure to properly account or explain his sources of income establishes the presence of malicious intent to conceal the truth, causing grave prejudice to the government to the amount of P8,981,082.52,” the Ombudsman said.
In finding him guilty of serious dishonesty, the Ombudsman also barred him from holding government posts and from enjoyment of retirement benefits.
Mabilog is still overseas after attending a seminar in Japan.
His spokesperson earlier said the mayor filed for an extended sick leave since he needed to rest after being diagnosed with diabetes.