Duterte asks Drilon to explain ties with Napoles, ex-Iloilo Mayor Mabilog

President Rodrigo Duterte has asked Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon to explain his alleged ties with convicted businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles and former Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog.

In a taped briefing aired Saturday morning, Duterte launched new tirades against members of the Senate blue ribbon committee, which is currently investigating the alleged overpriced procurement of face masks, face shields, and personal protective equipment (PPEs).

“Itong si Drilon he might want to explain his relationship with Janet Lim-Napoles since you want to discuss corruption and the use of people's money. And I can still remember that Ms. Napoles tampered with billions of pesos,” Duterte said, referring to Napoles, the mastermind in the controversial pork barrel scam.

Duterte mentioned one of Drilon’s alleged encounters with Napoles in Heritage Park in Taguig City.

“Could you call that a perfect coincidence? You claimed that you have only met Napoles 10 times but the photos show your closeness and is it true that Napoles contributed P5 million to your campaign?” he asked.

Duterte cited that even Drilon’s colleague in the Senate claimed that he gave something to Napoles to return the favor. 

“So what did you give in return?” the President asked.

Duterte further asked Drilon about his alleged relationship with Mabilog and retired police general Marcelo Garbo Jr. The President previously tagged both in his “narco list.”

“Since you have proclaimed yourself and your friends there in the Senate as anti-corruption czar, please enlighten me, Mr. Senator. Can you explain to the Filipinos your connection with former mayor Jed Mabilog and General Garbo? Aren’t they both connected in the illegal drug trade? Mga tao ninyo noon sa panahon niyo (They were your people during your term),” he said.

Drilon hailed from Iloilo province.

Moreover, Duterte asked Drilon to identify the owner of the biggest mall in Iloilo City and who “brokered” the sale of the Old Iloilo City Airport to Megaworld.

'Malicious'

Drilon on Saturday dismissed Duterte’s “malicious attacks” against him, adding that the Senate will not be distracted from investigating the alleged overpriced procurement of pandemic-related supplies.

“We will not be distracted. We will not let distractions and disinformation prevail… If all these malicious attacks are the price we have to pay for exposing the truth, then be it. We will face them,” Drilon said in a statement.

“All I heard is old news – the Napoles issue, Mayor Mabilog and Gen. Garbo,” the senator said.

“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 Jed Mabilog and Gen. Garbo. But what I can say is, there is not an iota of evidence that will link my name to illegal drugs,” the Senate minority chief said.

Regarding the sale of the old Iloilo airport, Drilon said it was sold through a public bidding at P1.2 billion set by the Privatization Council.

Napoles

In 2013, Drilon said that although he had met Napoles at a party, he never struck any pork deals with her.

In 2014, the senator said he never allocated his funds as a legislator to foundations linked to Napoles.

Malacañang in 2018 said the Office of the Ombudsman should look into the claim of Napoles that she gave at least P5 million to Drilon’s campaign kitty in 2010. 

Drilon however denied the allegations.

"We deny having received any campaign contribution from Napoles. We have submitted our Statements of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE), w/cv are open for public scrutiny. We will not further comment on such obviously fake news intended to harass the opposition,” Drilon then said. —KG, GMA News