ILOILO City – In separate statements, Ilonggo Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, former mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog and wife Marivic clapped back at President Rodrigo Duterte for raising “old news” and “lies” at them in an attempt to supposedly divert public attention to the ongoing corruption investigation by the Senate.
“Fentanyl not working for you?” Marivic asked Duterte in a social media post.
Fentanyl is powerful pain killer that can be addictive. Its side effects include confusion, anxiety and even hallucinations.
In December 2016, Duterte admitted taking Fentanyl as prescribed by his doctors because he had migraines and issues with his spine.
The President, in a taped briefing aired on Saturday morning, asked Drilon to explain his alleged ties with Mabilog and retired Police General Marcelo Garbo Jr. whom Duterte had linked to illegal drug trade, and convicted businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles, the alleged mastermind of the pork barrel scam.
Drilon described these issues as “old news.”
“We will not be distracted. We will not let distractions and disinformation prevail,” Drilon said in a statement.
Drilon is an ex-officio member of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee investigating the alleged overpriced procurement of facemasks, face shields and personal protective equipment (PPEs) by the Department of Budget and Management – Procurement Service on behalf of the Department of Health in 2020.
“Former mayor Jed Mabilog is a distant relative, being a second cousin. I cannot comprehend why the President wanted me to explain my connection with former Mayor Mabilog and General Garbo. But what I can say is, there is not an iota of evidence that will link my name to illegal drugs,” Drilon said.
Duterte called out Drilon, too, for the sale of the old airport site in Iloilo City to property developer Megaworld Corp.
“Who brokered the sale of the old Iloilo airport? It was sold through a public bidding at P1.2 billion set by the Privatization Council then headed by the late Justice secretary Raul Gonzales in 2007. The government’s Privatization Council at that time can very well explain this to the President,” he responded.
He also noted that the site of the old airport now represents a booming Iloilo City.
“In case the President mentions it in the future, the Ombudsman had investigated it and found no corruption. The only other person who has accused me of corruption is now a fugitive from justice –having been found guilty by the Supreme Court of libel,” Drilon said.
“I do not have to defend what I did in Iloilo. Mr. President, ask the people of Iloilo,” he added.
The Ilonggo senator stressed that “if all these malicious attacks are the price we have to pay for exposing the truth then be it. We will face them.”
DIVERSIONARY TACTIC?
On the other hand, Mabilog and wife Marivic, through their respective social media accounts, hit back at Duterte for dropping his name again.
Mabilog told the President to not to change the issue.
“Hoy Digong, don’t change the issue. Pila gani overprice nyo sa faceshield? Pila parte mo?” read Mabilog’s post.
Mabilog also commented on Duterte asking Drilon who owns the biggest mall in Iloilo City.
He wrote: “Ambot kon ano ang pinakadako nga mall sa (Iloilo), SM ? Siguro ang M sang SM ‘Mabilog’, hahaha.”
The former mayor added that the President is wasting the country’s billion worth of intelligence fund.
“Diin mo gintago sa (C)hina? Face shield pa more! Preparar ka na sa ICC (International Criminal Court) kay sa framed up charges mo, makuha mo gid parti mo!” Mabilog said.
On the other hand, Marivic stressed that Drilon and Mabilog “share the same bloodline” and “decency, honesty and the desire for public service run in their blood and both are not tainted with any proven cases of corruption.”
She further told Duterte to be “honest for one single moment in your life and tell the people that you lied about him (Jed).”
She asked Duterte if his “mental illness” has no chance to cure at all.
“Have you read yet the PNP (Philippine National Police), DILG (Department of Interior and Local Government), PDEA (Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency), NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) reports exonerating and clearing him? Those reports reached your desk in early 2017 yet, and again in 2018. Is that how poor your reading comprehension is? You asked the NBI to perform a lifestyle check, right? You even deployed them to our house? Were you ever ashamed at yourself that you did not find the courage to tell the people the truth? That everything you accused Jed of is just a product of your evil, malevolent, sick mind? Fentanyl not working for you?” Marivic added./PN