By Tara Yap Iloilo City — For the first time, President Rodrigo Duterte has set foot in this city, which he has repeatedly dubbed as the most “shabulized” (in reference to the illegal drug shabu or crystal meth). President Rodrigo Roa Duterte (RICHARD MADELO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO) Duterte’s first official visit to Iloilo City is largely due to the national convention of the Philippine Councilors League (PCL) at the Iloilo Convention Center. While Duterte came to Iloilo province last February to visit the wake of slain Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) Joanna Demafelis, the Wednesday appearance was his first in Iloilo City since April 2016 during the campaign period. Iloilo City was in Duterte’s ire since August 2016 when he publicly named politicians and police officers allegedly protecting the illegal drug trade including then mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog, who was dismissed from office due to unexplained wealth. Duterte has repeatedly accused Mabilog of protecting slain drug lord Melvin “Boyet” Odicta Sr. This accusation has been denied by Mabilog, who left the country fearing for his life. Duterte’s previous pronouncements have hurt many ordinary Ilonggos and alarmed the business community, which expressed that his statements are putting a bad image in Iloilo City, the regional capital of Western Visayas. Aside from speaking at the PCL convention, Duterte also had two other engagements in the province of Iloilo. The President also distributed 2,314 Certificates of Land Ownership (CLOAs) to beneficiaries of Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in Cabatuan town. Duterte also graced the formal opening of Vista Mall in Oton town. The mall is owned by the family of Senator Cynthia Villar, Secretary Mark Villar of Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), and former Senator Manny Villar.