City Council declares Drilon accuser persona non grata

CEBU, Philippines – The Iloilo City Council on Tuesday declared as persona non grata journalist and former Iloilo provincial administrator, Manuel Mejorada, who accused Senate President Franklin Drilon of involvement in the allegedly anomalous construction of the Iloilo Convention Center.

All but one member of the City Council, Councilor Leone Gerochi, abstained from voting on the resolution by saying that the resolution could have condemned the message and not the messenger.

Councilor Eduardo Peñaredondo, who sponsored the resolution, however said the resolution was a way to condemn Mejorada's statement before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee tagging Iloilo City "as a bird's nest of corruption."

The resolution stated that, "Mejorada willfully intended to erode, blemish and even destroy the character, reputation and integrity of the duly constituted authorities in the city, including the institution and instrumentalities of the government, both local and national."

Peñaredondo said, "It's a serious affront on the collective honor and dignity of the Ilonggos,"

The resolution fulfilled the call of City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog, in his Facebook account, to declare Mejorada as persona non grata of Iloilo City and province.

During the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee investigation on the alleged overpricing of the P700-million Iloilo Convention Center, Mejorada told the senators Iloilo City is "pugad ng korapsyon," and accused Drilon of being behind the anomalous project.

Mejorada however admitted to the senators that he has no evidence to prove that Drilon and other ranking government officials benefited from the project.

Meanwhile, it was believed that the resolution has no legal effect on Mejorada in relation to his rights as a resident of IIoilo City.

Although he is currently residing in La Paz district of Iloilo City, Mejorada is a voter of Pavia town in Iloilo and a native of Capiz province.