The former mayor of Iloilo City went emotional in his appearance before the quad committee hearing of the House of Representatives.

Ex-mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog testified on September 19, 2024 in the House probe on Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGO) and its ties to the illegal drugs trade, drug war, and extrajudicial killings (EJK).

Mabilog burst into tears as he read out his written testimony. He recalled his experience during his stint as mayor when he was included in the narco-list in relation to the drug war waged by the Duterte administration.

He cited that on August 28, 2017, he narrated that he received a call from former Philippine National Police (PNP) Regional Director, Chief Supt. (General) Bernardo Diaz that former PNP chief and incumbent Senator Ronald “Bato” de la Rosa wants to see him at Camp Crame at about noontime of the following day.

Mabilog said he immediately traveled to Manila. However, he wondered as to the many times the meeting was delayed. It was about 5 p.m. that day, he said, when he received calls from a few PNP colonels who advised him not to show up at Crame, or he would be killed.

He further said that his wife, Marivic, also received a text message from a wife of a police colonel warning not to allow her husband to come to Crame.

It was on August 30, 2017 when Mabilog went to Japan to attend an international conference. It was there that he had a talk over the phone with de la Rosa. He said that de la Rosa trusted he is innocent and vowed to help him. But after the phone conversation, he received a call from a police general warning him not to return to the country as his life is at stake.

Mabilog said the serious threat to his life made him decide to travel to the United States and seek political asylum.

In the quad committee hearing, he underscored he is not a drug protector and has never been one.

He also presented to the committee the recognition he received and that of the city during his stint in government service, including his campaign against the illegal drugs trade.

In 2014, according to Mabilog, Iloilo City became the first city in the country to have activated Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Councils (BADAC).