The Palace on Tuesday assured Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog of his safety amid his apparent fears that he might be the next target after being publicly named by President Rodrigo Duterte as among the public officials coddling the illegal drug trade.
“This is a pretty democratic country. As far as the evidence shows, rule of law prevails,” Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said.
Mabilog, who left the country for Japan on Aug. 31 extended his “sick leave” after failing to report to work Monday, Oct. 2.
In an interview with community-based paper Panay News, Mabilog’s wife Victoria said that she was keeping her husband from returning to the country amid the President’s open threats against him.
Mabilog has been at the receiving end of President Duterte’s verbal attacks since last year, as he repeatedly accused the mayor of an illegal drugs protector.
