Dela Rosa says Mabilog’s quad comm testimony part of ‘demolition job’ | ABS-CBN

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Dela Rosa says Mabilog’s quad comm testimony part of ‘demolition job’

Dela Rosa says Mabilog’s quad comm testimony part of ‘demolition job’

Victoria Tulad,

Vivienne Gulla,

ABS-CBN News

 | 

Updated Sep 20, 2024 05:12 PM PHT

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Sen. Ronald Sen. Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa and former Iloilo City mayor Jed Mabilog. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File

MANILA -- Sen. Ronald Dela Rosa asserted Friday that the testimony of former Iloilo City mayor Jed Mabilog before the House of Representatives quadruple committee was part of a “demolition job”.

In his first appearance in the quad comm on Thursday, Mabilog said he received information that he would be forced to point to former Senators Franklin Drilon and Mar Roxas as drug lords. Mabilog added that he received threats to his and his family’s lives after former President Rodrigo Duterte branded him as a protector of the narcotics trade even without proof. 

Dela Rosa, who oversaw Duterte's drug war as former chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), alleged that the House probe was a "fishing expedition."

“Demolition job [itp] para masira kaming lahat at hihina si VP Sara [Duterte] sa 2028… Fishing expedition, paghahanap ng mga kasalanan ni Duterte at kanyang mga associates,” Dela Rosa said. 

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Dela Rosa said there was no information that Drilon and Roxas were ever involved in illegal drugs.

 “Wala akong info. At wala tayong basis na ipapaturo siya at saka hindi naman ugali natin ipapaturo bakit naman ganun? Ipapaturo ko ‘yung mga tao na matitino?” the senator said.

He said Duterte never ordered him to put anyone, even his political opponents, in the drug list.

Dela Rosa called on Mabilog to name the general who supposedly told him about the plot against the two former officials.

ABS-CBN News is still trying to get the side of Roxas and Drilon, who is Mabilog’s second cousin.

  

HELP FOR MABILOG

 

Dela Rosa confirmed that he was supposed to meet Mabilog in Camp Crame before but the latter cancelled their appointment and fled to the United States.

The senator said deemed Mabilog as a decent percent and wanted to help Mabilog clear his name with Duterte.

 “Sabi ko kung takot ka punta ka dito sa Crame at ako ang bahala sayo safe ka dito walang mangyayari sayo 'pag andito ka. At kukumbinsihin ko si President Duterte na disente ka na tao, matino ka,” he explained.

 “Mabait siya tingin ko. Mukhang di naman siya siraulo, di naman siya loko loko.”

 According to Dela Rosa, Mabilog was included in the drugs watchlist allegedly because of his association to a certain city hall employee who frequently met with the drug lord Melvin Odicta. Odicta and his wife were gunned down in 2016.

Iloilo's most wanted 'Dragon' denies ties to drugs
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WHAT QUAD COMM LEADERS SAY 



House Quad Comm Lead Co-Chair Rep. Robert Ace Barbers denied that House Speaker Martin Romualdez is behind the supposed “demolition job” against the Vice President, given their possible rivalry in the 2028 presidential polls. 


“Walang demolition job ang quad comm. Ang mandato ng quad comm, imbestigahan ‘yung mga issue of national importance… Wala hong political d’yan,” he said. 


“Wala namang direct testimonies or evidence that would name personalities, especially Vice President Sara Duterte. Wala namang ganoon. ‘Yung mga nag-iisip niyan, hindi ko alam kung saan galing ‘yun,” he added.


He said the panel was open  to witnesses like Mabilog, who are willing to execute an affidavit. 


The quad comm “will not be abated,” said its co-chairperson Rep. Dan Fernandez. 


“The people deserve nothing but the truth and nothing less. Let the evidences lead us to wherever it takes us,” he said.

 


VERIFICATION


Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police said it would Mabilog's statements. 

PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said it was the first time she heard the supposed revelations of Mabilog. She said the PNP would reach out to the camp of the former mayor.  

Fajardo added that the PNP would remain apolitical and unbiased in its probe. 

"First time ko narinig itong mga revelation kahapon at makikipag-ugnayan ang PNP. Again lahat ng lumalabas na information ngayon are all subject for validation and verification," she said. 

- With a report from Raya Capulong, ABS-CBN News

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