ILOILO CITY – Former Iloilo City Councilor Plaridel Nava has exposed the events leading to the approval of the joint venture agreement for the Iloilo Ferry Terminal at Parola Wharf under the administration of former Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog.
The agreement, signed in 2012, was between the Iloilo City Government, represented by Mabilog, and Ferdinand Sia, who acted on behalf of Double Dragon Properties Corporation (DDPC) and another company involved in the Parola project.
In an interview with Bombo Radyo, Nava claimed that Mabilog pressured the city council to grant him authority to sign the contract, despite their initial opposition. He alleged that Mabilog became furious when councilors resisted, which eventually led to their reluctant approval.
Nava further disclosed that Mabilog called them for a meeting, where he allegedly hinted that they would receive financial incentives. The former councilor claimed that such situations were common when major projects were introduced in the city.
Given these allegations, Nava said it would not be surprising if similar arrangements had taken place between the Iloilo City Government and Double Dragon Properties Corporation.
Following the incident, Nava filed a case against Mabilog and DDPC before the Office of the Ombudsman, citing violations of RA 3019: Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
At the time, the case was handled by then-Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales during the administration of former President Benigno Simeon “Noynoy” Aquino III. However, it was later dismissed on the grounds that the Iloilo City Council had ultimately authorized Mabilog to sign the contract on behalf of the city government.
