Duterte ordered lifestyle check of Iloilo City exec

Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog's controversial "white mansion" was mentioned by President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday at an oath-taking ceremony.

"I had a lifestyle check on him, his house is like a palace. Sabi ko, anak siguro ito ng mayamang-mayaman," said the President.

"yung bahay niya pinasilip ko sa NBI at saka BIR," he added.

The report of GMA News' Joseph Morong on "State of the Nation with Jessica Soho" showed the home that President Duterte described as "palace-like."

Mabilog had opened his house, which is called "White Mansion," to the media in November last year.

Former Iloilo provincial administrator Manuel Mejorada's claim that it was worth at least P100 million. The Mayor, however, said construction of the house only cost them P8 million.

Mabilog's white house and located along the Iloilo river and across Esplanade, which is among the city's popular tourist spots.

According to the report, the construction of the house came from the earnings of the mayor's wife, Marivic, who is a part owner of an engineering firm in Canada.

They started building the house in 2008 and and this was done one portion at a time.

"I know for myself and I know for my family, hindi kami involved sa drugs at all," Mabilog said in the report.

Mabilog had denied that he lives in a "palace-like" house in a statement issued on Wednesday.

"I have nothing to hide. My house, while often described as a palace, is not quite a palace. The land or compound on which our circa 1800's ancestral home stands was inherited and the house was built on a more or less 200 sq meter portion. It is not as big as pictures would make it appear. Last year I opened our doors to the local media for them to see the inside," he said.

Duterte also said Mabilog had asked to meet with him. But the President did not say if he wants to meet with the mayor.

Mabilog’s name kept on appearing on his drug list, even in the updated versions.

The mayor had said he finds it “very unfortunate and disconcerting” that his name was included in the list of more than 150 personalities publicly disclosed by Duterte. — Margaret Claire Layug/BAP, GMA News