Former Iloilo City mayor Jed Mabilog posted bail — Remulla

Former Iloilo City mayor Jed Mabilog has posted bail over the graft charge against him, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said Wednesday.

"He posted bail, I was told yesterday," Remulla said in a press briefing.

"The NBI was there to make sure that he didn't come home blind and just ride the car and ride off to the sunset. Pero nu'ng sinamahan siya na mag-post ng bail, then we know that he was going to follow the law," he added.

(The NBI was there to make sure that he didn't come home blind and just ride the car and ride off to the sunset. When he was accompanied to post bail, then we knew that he was going to follow the law.)

Mabilog landed at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Tuesday and surrendered to operatives of the National Bureau of Investigation-National Capital Region (NBI-NCR) and the International Airport Investigation Division.

In 2023, the Office of the Ombudsman filed graft charges against Mabilog and councilor Plaridel Nava II before the Sandiganbayan over alleged intervention in the awarding of a government contract to a towing services firm where they have an interest in.

Meanwhile, Remulla said the Department of Justice (DOJ) will ask Mabilog regarding his alleged involvement in the drug trade.

"Yes, I think it's just right that we ask him these questions about his being in the drugs watch list and to give his side on it," Remulla said.

Former President Rodrigo Duterte included Mabilog in his drug watch list in 2016. Mabilog denied ties to the drug trade, saying he found his inclusion in the list "very unfortunate and disconcerting."

Remulla said the DOJ was willing to grant Mabilog a "protection of sorts" if there were cases he wished to bring forward.

"(But) as it is right now, he's one person who has just rejoined the political landscape," Remulla said. — VDV, GMA Integrated News