Parojinog helped fund Marawi siege – Rody

MANILA, Philippines — Slain Ozamiz Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog was among the local officials who provided funding to Maute militants who attacked and occupied Marawi, President Duterte has said.

The President showed a so-called matrix of funding sources of the Maute group to soldiers fighting in Marawi during his visit to Camp Ranao on Thursday.

The President said some local officials  in Central Mindanao are also financing terrorists, but did not elaborate.

Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Gen. Eduardo Año said Mayor Montasir Sabal of Talitay, Maguindanao is another alleged narco politician who helped finance Maute militants.               

Sabal has been in hiding since the Office of the Ombudsman ordered his dismissal last month for misdeclaring his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth.

Año said the matrix presented by the President was based on a report of the military. He declined to identify the other supposed Maute financiers, saying it is premature.

”It’s a confidential document, but the President already mentioned the involvement of Parojinog,” Año said.

At a press conference after visiting the soldiers in Marawi, the President tagged Iloilo City Mayor Patrick Jed Mabilog again in the illegal drug trade.

”He is out of the country because he’s afraid to suffer the fate of Parojinog,” Duterte said.

 Mabilog, who according to his lawyer has been affected by the President’s accusations, filed a sick leave until the end of the month to seek treatment  abroad.   

Wiretapped

The President also admitted that he ordered the wiretapping of certain politicians whom he accused of protecting drug lords.

“I was listening…Don’t ask me how, what kind of listening device… It was a whisper from God and I was listening...They were all tapped,” he said.

Asked about Duterte’s admission that certain officials had been wiretapped, presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said he has to clarify the matter with the Chief Executive.

However, Abella said he believes that being a lawyer, the President “was operating within the bounds of the law.”

‘Hapilon still alive’

 Meanwhile, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon said terrorist Isnilon Hapilon is still alive and remains holed up in Marawi.

“Isnilon Hapilon is still in the battle area. There are many indications of that,” Esperon said yesterday.

He appealed for patience from the public, saying government troops are close to finishing off the remaining members of the Maute group. – With Jose Rodel Clapano