MANILA, Philippines –  The guns of anti-narcotics policemen are still holstered. In the meantime, President Duterte has ordered a lifestyle check on Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog, whom he accused of having drug links.

Duterte’s order, given to the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), followed his assignment of Chief Insp. Jovie Espenido to Iloilo to curb the illegal drug trade in the city.

Espenido was the police chief in Albuera, Leyte when then mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr. was killed in prison along with a fellow inmate. In Ozamiz City, members of the ruling political family – the Parojinogs – were also killed in a raid when Espenido was assigned there.

“Mabilog has sent word that he wants to talk to me. And I had some lifestyle check on him,” the President said.  “His house is like a palace… he must really be a scion of a very rich (family).”

Mabilog was quick to address Duterte’s comments.

“I have nothing to hide. My house, while often described as a palace, is not quite a palace. The land or compound on which our circa 1800s ancestral home stands was inherited and the house was built on a more or less 200-square meter portion. It is not as big as pictures would make it appear. Last year, I opened our doors to the local media for them to see the inside,” the mayor said in a statement.

Mabilog said “modesty aside,” he and his wife Marivic had a number of businesses before he joined politics.

“I was already living a comfortable life in Manila as an entrepreneur when I came home to run for city councilor. I didn’t become rich because of politics… unlike many politicians. My wife had to make huge sacrifices working in Canada for many years, while at the same time making wise investments that were reported in her income tax returns,” Mabilog said.

“Everybody dreams of building a beautiful home. Marivic and I built one not only for ourselves but for our children. And I had hoped to plant seeds of inspiration among Ilonggos that through hard work, they, too, like Jed Mabilog, can achieve their dreams,” he added.

Mabilog said he just feels sad that what he had hoped to be a “dream home has caused a nightmare experience” for him and his family.

“But I can assure the President not a single centavo of dirty money was spent for this home,” Mabilog said.

No turning back

Amid speculations over Espenido’s transfer to Iloilo because of what happened in Albuera and Ozamiz City, Duterte exhorted police officials to be more assertive in enforcing laws to uphold peace and order in the country.

“It is for this reason that I look to the PNP (Philippine National Police) to provide leadership to assert peace and order and uphold the rule of law,” he said.

Duterte also vowed to continue supporting members of the police who risk their lives to obey his marching orders to end the drug menace at all costs to save the next generation.

“It is your duty to ensure that our countrymen are protected from the various elements that prey on our citizenry. You are the protectors of our people and they look to you for respite, succor and safety,” Duterte said.

“Despite the headway we already made against illegal drugs and criminality, our country is not yet safe from harm and danger. So remain vigilant. Stay alert and be ready,” Duterte said.

Notwithstanding the cry for justice for extrajudicial killings and purported summary executions by the police, Duterte said it is every policeman’s mandate to protect the country despite the heavy risks.

“That’s what we are paid for. We are paid to work and if possible, paid to die for the country,” he said. “Most of all, sustain our efforts against illegal drugs and crime. Do not be afraid as long as you do your duties.”

“I repeat: do not be afraid of the human rights (groups) and the filing of charges… Just do your job, follow the rules of engagement, follow the rules of performance of duty and follow the rules of self-defense and I will go to prison for you,” Duterte said.

But Duterte reminded the police to ensure that they follow the rule of law while they fulfill their duties.

The police and the administration were heavily criticized after the police killed Grade 11 student Kian delos Santos during an anti-drug operation in Caloocan City Aug. 16.

He added he will not tolerate any abuses of police during operations as well as corruption in the force.

“But make no mistake: this government will never tolerate any abuse of power, corruption and illegal activities in the PNP and the entire bureaucracy,” he said, expressing belief that there are only a handful of scalawags in the police force.

“These are the guys that joined the PNP hoping (for) something – money, comfort, luxury,” he added.

Back then, Duterte said Manila-based policemen were contented with stainless jeeps made in Cavite.

Now, Duterte said they want to acquire luxury cars, citing for example Toyota Land Cruisers.

“Now, they are not contented with it (jeep) because if you really crave for something which you cannot afford by any measure, after your hard day’s work, then that is where corruption starts,” he said.

“Once you hunger for the things that you cannot afford, da-dive ka talaga diyan,” he said. “To the newly appointed and promoted officials, I ask you to lead the men and women of the PNP as together, you fulfill this task.”

He also asked the top PNP officials to “guide them to become the exemplary and effective police officers that our country needs at this important juncture of our history.”

In the same event, Duterte also justified anew his war against drugs and his warning to those who will not stop their illegal drug activities. He even said he is ready to defend his stance even before the heavens.

“You see, that’s is why I am cursing them… (and I resort to) naming names, idiots, b***s***, they keep on hankering on my statement that ‘if you destroy my country, I will kill you’,” he said.

“That is a very legitimate statement of a leader of a nation. And when I say that ‘I will kill you if you destroy the young of this country’, nobody can argue with that statement maski sa harap ni Hesukristo,” Duterte said. – Christina Mendez, Jennifer Rendon, Jen Ponsaran

[“Source-philstar”]