Former Daanbantayan town mayor Vicente Loot (L) and Former Iloilo City Jed Patrick Mabilog. | PHOTOS: Niña Mae Oliverio and Ian Paul Cordero
CEBU CITY — Two former mayors, accused by former president Rodrigo Deterte of being illegal drug protectors, have taken different paths in these midterm elections.
Former mayor Vicente Loot of Daanbantayan town in Cebu filed his certificate of candidacy on Oct. 8 to reclaim his old seat.
Former mayor Jed Mabilog of Iloilo City, on the other hand, decided to skip the 2025 polls, saying he needed time to “build and rebuild myself.”
Loot and members of his slate went to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) office in Daanbantayan about 9:30 a.m. on Oct. 8 to file their certificates of candidacy.
According to acting Daanbantayan election officer Princess Ann Cruz, the mayor was accompanied by his wife, former mayor Maria Luisa Loot, some family members, and supporters.
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Loot’s bid under One Cebu Party will be challenged by Councilor Gilbert Arabis of the National Unity Party.
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Loot said he was merely filling in the post that would be vacated by Mayor Sun Shimura, who decided to run for 4th district House representative against Rep. Janice Salimbangon.
“As usual, my role in Daanbantayan is the forever filler for vacancies. Mayor Sun will be leaving the mayorship, and as a filler and a good soldier, I am here to take over. I will continue what he hasn’t finished,” Loot told reporters.
The retired police general said that if elected, he vowed to give the “true definition of public service” to the people of Daanbantayan.
“That has been my role since I entered the (Philippine National Police) academy, and for the 33 years I served the public. That’s all I can offer— good and right definition of public service,” said Loot.
In May 2016, Loot ran for mayor of Daanbantayan and won against the incumbent mayor, Augusto Corro, by a margin of just seven votes.
Two months later, Loot was publicly named by then president Duterte, along with four other police generals, as one of the country’s alleged top protectors of illegal drugs.
Despite the accusations, no charges were filed against Loot.
In May 2018, unidentified gunmen opened fire at the pump boat carrying Loot and his family as they approached the dock in Barangay Maya, Daanbantayan.
Two drivers, a nanny of Loot’s grandchildren, and a nearby porter were injured in the attack.
After surviving the ambush, Loot disappeared. He resurfaced in 2022 after Duterte stepped down, to serve as municipal administrator of Daanbantayan.
In Iloilo City, Mabilog turned down the clamor for him to run for mayor.
He announced his decision during the proclamation rally of Team Sulong-Gugma’s at the University of San Agustin, Iloilo, on Oct. 8, to the dismay of his supporters.
“I am making the ultimate sacrifice for Iloilo City. I will not run as mayor. I ask for forgiveness because I have the word of honor and will stand by it,” he said.
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Mabilog vowed that he would continue to serve the people of Iloilo in any way he could.
With Mabilog out of the race, the mayoral contest in Iloilo City would be between Raisa Treñas-Chu, daughter of outgoing Mayor Jerry Treñas, and businessman Roland Magahin.
