‘PRODUCT OF EVIL, SICK MIND’: Mabilog’s wife riles at Pres. Duterte, again

By Jennifer Rendon

Ma. Victoria “Marivic” Mabilog again came to the defense of her husband, former Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog, after President Rodrigo Duterte called out the latter in his recent public address.

As expected, Marivic has shown that even the highest elected person in the country could not silence nor make her less pugnacious.

During his recorded meeting aired Saturday morning, Duterte declared war against senators who are investigating the alleged overpricing in the government’s procurement of supplies for its COVID-19 response.

Instead of answering accusations, Duterte brought up Senator Franklin Drilon’s alleged ties with Mabilog, former police general Marcelo Garbo Jr., and businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles of the infamous pork barrel scheme.

Marivic directly answered Duterte claiming that her husband is Drilon’s cousin.

“They share the same bloodline.  You see?  Decency, honesty and the desire for public service run in their blood. Both are not tainted with any proven cases of corruption.  You can’t say the same for most of the political clans in the country,” she said.

As to Duterte again bringing up Mabilog’s name, “You miss him that much? Sorry, but he’s taken. I am the better choice, er, the best choice,” she said.

Marivic also challenged Duterte to be “honest for one single moment in your life and tell the people that you lied about him. ”

“Have you read yet the PNP, DILG, PDEA, NBI reports exonerating and clearing him?  Those reports reached your desk in early 2017 yet, and again in 2018. Is that how poor your reading comprehension is? You asked the NBI to perform a lifestyle check, right?” she said.

Marivic said that Duterte even deployed the NBI to their house to verify.

“Were you ever ashamed at yourself that you did not find the courage to tell the people the truth? That everything you accused Jed of is just a product of your evil, malevolent, sick mind? Fentanyl not working for you?” she said.

Marivic also asked about Duterte mentioning the owner of the biggest mall in Iloilo City.

“If you are giving it to us as compensation for the wrongs that you did, Thanks, but no thanks. Or you just happened to think of the mall because I pointed out to your favorite cabinet secretary, Mr Fan Boy of BBB (Build, Build, Build) that the only legitimate BBB project he can claim in Iloilo  is ‘ang tiyangge ni Nanay niya’ (the store of her mother),” she said.

By Mr Fan Boy, Marivic was referring to Secretary Mark Villar of the Department of Public Works and Highways.

It didn’t sit well for most Ilonggos that Villar posted a photo of the Iloilo City’s Esplanade with a hashtag #BuildBuildBuild.

And as a postscript, Marivic told Duterte that Mabilog has looked even better.

“Amo na gali effect kon indi malatnan isa ka tao sang kalaw-ayon mo. Lantawa bala si Roque kay pirme ga iping sa imo. Nan.,” she said.

(Maybe, that’s an effect of not being infected by your ugliness. Look at Roque who frequently stays close to you.)

Drilon also issued a statement following Duterte’s tirades against him.

In a statement, Drilon said Senators “will not be distracted. We will not let distractions and disinformation prevail. All I heard is old news – the Napoles issue, Mayor Mabilog, and Gen. Garbo.”

He also explained that the old Iloilo City Airport “was sold through a public bidding at P1.2 billion set by the Privatization Council then headed by the late Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales in 2007.”

He also answered his ties with Mabilog and Garbo, Drilon disclosed, “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.”

“If all these malicious attacks are the price we have to pay for exposing the truth, then so be it. We will face them,” Drilon said.