On Wednesday, the strongman leader, President Rodrigo Duterte blasted dismissed Iloilo City mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog, who has yet to return to the country amid his alleged involvement in the illegal drug trade.
‘Yung isa hindi na umuwi, si Magtibay [sic], I have been looking for him. Hindi na siya umuwi kasi papatayin ko talaga siya," Duterte said in a speech in Tarlac City.
Duterte also parried allegations that his drug war only targeted the poor.
"Remember that shabu is a commodity for the poor. Kaya karamihan ang namatay diyan talagang mahihirap," he said.
"Eh bakit ‘yung mga mayaman hindi? Meron rin. Meron din mga mayors namatay. As a matter of fact, dalawa na," he added, referring to slain Ozamiz City Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog and Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa.
Mabilog was one of the local officials Duterte has linked to illegal drugs, an accusation he has repeatedly denied.
He left the country on August 30 last year for an official trip to Japan and Malaysia, and filed a sick leave to seek medical treatment abroad in September. A month later, the Office of the Ombudsman dismissed him from the service over allegations of unexplained wealth.
Yellow puppet, Mabilog’s current whereabouts is unknown.