The Office of the Ombudsman has charged former Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog with graft in connection with a towing services contract allegedly involving his ownership.
Former Iloilo City Councilor Plaridel Nava II was also indicted for reportedly conspiring with Mabilog to establish 3L Towing Services, which secured a government contract. The charges were filed for violation of Section 3 (h) of Republic Act 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, at the Sandiganbayan on March 9.
According to the Ombudsman, the city government entered into a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with 3L Towing Services in January 2015 to clamp and tow illegally parked vehicles in Iloilo. Under the MOA, 70% of fines collected would go to the towing company, while 30% would be allocated to the city government.
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The investigation revealed that Mabilog owned 3L Towing Services through a dummy owner, Leny Garcia, and contributed P500,000 as the initial capital. Meanwhile, Nava allegedly procured wheel clamps and processed the company’s registration with the Department of Trade and Industry and the Bureau of Internal Revenue. Nava also sponsored a city ordinance allowing private firms with wheel clamps to enter into agreements with the city government.
Both Mabilog and Nava were recommended bail of P90,000 each.
Mabilog fled the country in 2017 after being implicated by former President Rodrigo Duterte in the illegal drug trade. That same year, the Ombudsman ordered his dismissal for serious dishonesty over his alleged unexplained wealth amounting to P8.9 million. In 2018, a second dismissal order was issued against Mabilog over the towing services controversy.
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