ILOILO CITY, Iloilo, Philippines — Former Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog, who fled the country after he was repeatedly tagged by President Duterte in the illegal drug trade, has been cleared of charges related to his supposed ill-gotten wealth. ADVERTISEMENTIn a 22-page decision promulgated on June 11, the appeals court’s 19th Division said Mabilog did not conceal or misrepresent the increase in his wealth by P8,981,082.52 in his 2013 statement of assets, liabilities and net worth. It noted that Mabilog submitted the 2013 tax reassessments of his wife, Marivic, in Canada which showed that she had a net income of C$140,944 or P5,883,002.56. “His wife’s income in 2013 already accounted for 65 percent of the P8,981,082.52 increase in the petitioner’s net worth for the same year,” according to the decision. ‘Reasonable’It said the increase in Mabilog’s net worth for that year was “placed within reasonable reason” if his income as mayor of a highly urbanized city would be considered.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer July 21, 2021 21:00 UTC