MANILA: President Rodrigo Duterte has branded Iloilo as the most ‘shabulized’ province in the country after several Ilonggos appeared in his long list of officials who allegedly have drug linkages.
“The most shabulized – is that the word – shabulized, is there such a word shabulized? I will say that wala akong personal sa kanila ha – Iloilo,” Duterte was quoted by GMA News.
Among those coming from Iloilo are Mayors Jed Mabilog of Iloilo City, Sigfredo Betita of Carles, Alex Centena of Calinog, and Mariano Malones of Maasin.
Also named were Judge Savillo of Regional Trial Court Branch 13, Vice Mayor Francis Ansing Amboy of Maasin, Attorney Antonio Pesina, and Erwin “Tongtong” Plagata.
Meanwhile, Iloilo Gov. Arthur Defensor said he was unsure if the point of reference of the President was Western Visayas or the entire country. “If he meant that Iloilo was the worst nationwide, I doubt that very much,” Defensor told the Philippine Daily Inquirer.
Other Ilonggos expressed varied views on the President’s remarks.
In social media sites of Iloilo radio stations, several lauded the President for naming the officials and agreed that the drug problem in Iloilo has become prevalent.
“Truth hurts. Congratulations Mr. President. People of the Philippines should know,” said Bebot Donesa in a post at the Facebook page of radio station Aksyon Radyo Iloilo.
Others, however, disagreed.
“There are two sides of a coin. (This could be true. This could also be in retaliation for getting small votes in Western Visayas),’ said Rodel Ola.
Western Visayas was a bailwick of defeated presidential candidate and former Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas.
