Court of Appeals affirms dismissal of Jed Mabilog
Iloilo City Mayor Jed Mabilog will not return to office following a decision by the Office of the Ombudsman finding him guilty of "serious dishonesty relative to his unlawful acquisition of wealth." ADB photo
MANILA, Philippines — The Court of Appeals upheld the dismissal of Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog, who was found guilty of graft by the Office of the Ombudsman.
In a four-page resolution dated November 3, the appellate court's Special First Division dismissed Mabilog’s plea to reverse the Ombudsman's order for his removal from office.
The magistrates noted that Mabilog could have based his petition on Rule 43 of the Rules of Court. This rule on scope allows an appellant to question a ruling by the Office of the Ombudsman.
Instead, Mabilog and his legal team cited Rule 65 used to question lower court orders and government action before the Supreme Court.
“Mabilog's case, involving as it does an administrative charge resulting in his dismissal from service, does not fall under any of the foregoing circumstance," the CA resolution read.
Associate Justice Ramon Paul Hernando penned the resolution while Acting Presiding Justice Remedios Salazar-Fernando and Justice Zenaida Galapate-Laguilles concurred.
On October 6, the Ombudsman issued a 13-page dismissal order against Mabilog for his unexplained wealth.
The Ombudsman said Mabilog was found guilty of “serious dishonesty relative to his unlawful acquisition of wealth."
"He is meted the penalty of dismissal from the service with cancellation of civil service eligibility, forfeiture of retirement benefits, perpetual disqualification from holding public office and bar from taking civil service examination," the anti-graft office added.
The Iloilo City Mayor was among the alleged politicians linked to the drug trade identified by President Rodrigo Duterte in August 2016. Duterte was citing intelligence reports in revealing the names of officials on the list.
After assigning controversial Chief Inspector Jovie Espenido to Iloilo City, Duterte in August warned Mabilog to stop protecting drug lords and advised him to end his supposed ties to the illegal drug trade.
Mabilog denied the allegations. — Rosette Adel
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