ILOILO City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog said sorry for his statement calling Guimaras residents drug couriers for not using the new ferry terminal scanner to inspect their baggage in going to Guimaras.
In his apology statement issued on Sunday, September 11, Mabilog said it is not his intention to malign the people of Guimaras but only those drug couriers who use the city as jump-off point to spread illegal drugs in the island, or those from the other islands and use Guimaras as transmitting entry point to Iloilo City and other areas in Panay Island.
The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency has confirmed that Guimaras is an important entry point of illegal drugs, although claims that the island has a secret shabu laboratory have yet to be verified.
Mabilog said his statement was taken out of context due to his active campaign against the proliferation of illegal drugs in the city and the rest of Western Visayas.
He called on Guimaras Governor Samuel Gumarin on Sunday and expressed his apology to the officials and residents.
The Provincial Board of Guimaras has threatened Mabilog with a persona non-grata resolution on Tuesday and demanded a public apology from him.
The five mayors of Guimaras also expressed their disgust over the incident and said Mabilog should be careful in giving out statements that hurt the people of Guimaras.
Mabilog said the new ferry terminal scanner is provided by terminal developer Double Dragon Properties Corp.
The outgoing passengers do not pay a terminal fee since it is being subsidized by the Injap family corporation and the developer.
Mabilog said the use of the ferry terminal and the baggage scanner is free of charge but passengers refuse to use scanner.
Gumarin assured everything is well between the city mayor and the people of Guimaras because of the public apology. (LCP/Sunnex)