President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos, Jr. granted former Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog ‘executive clemency,’ effectively lifting the administrative penalties imposed on him after his dismissal from public office.
In a statement, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said the clemency was attributed to Mabilog’s longstanding commitment to good governance and the accolades earned by Iloilo City during his tenure.
The Office of the President issued the resolution on Jan. 15, signed by Bersamin under the President’s authority. The decision follows Mabilog’s petition for unconditional presidential pardon, which was filed earlier.
With the executive clemency granted by the President, these administrative penalties have been lifted, paving the way for Mabilog’s potential return to government service.
In August 2017, then-President Rodrigo Duterte accused Mabilog of being a “major drug protector” during a public address and included him on a watch list of public officials allegedly involved in illegal drugs.
Mabilog left the country that year, fearing for his safety. He returned on Sept. 10, 2024 under the new administration to clear his name after being included in Duterte’s drug watchlist, despite no drug charges being filed against him.
The Ombudsman also ordered Mabilog’s dismissal in 2017 for “serious dishonesty” after he was found guilty of failing to explain a significant increase in his wealth, amounting to over P8.9 million.
Bersamin later explained President Marcos’ decision to grant clemency to Mabilog.
“The President decided to grant the request of former Mayor Mabilog because he pleaded that his liabilities or disabilities under the decision of the Ombudsman should be expunged,” Bersamin said.
According to the Executive Secretary, Mabilog explained his failure to address the discrepancies, citing circumstances that forced him to leave the country.
He claimed to have fled the Philippines due to perceived threats to his life under the administration of then-President Duterte, who had publicly accused him of being involved in illegal drug activities in Iloilo City.
“Mabilog claimed he left the country because of threats to his life, which he believed stemmed from then-President Rodrigo Duterte’s accusations linking him to the illegal drug trade,” Bersamin said.
“Whether those allegations were true or not, that is irrelevant now,” Bersamin said.
He noted that Mabilog returned to the country with renewed confidence following the expiration of Duterte’s term and the Marcos administration’s stance on certain issues, including investigations into drug-related killings during Duterte’s presidency.
Bersamin emphasized that Mabilog’s clemency clears him of administrative liabilities, allowing him to potentially seek public office again.
“This is an exercise of the President’s power of executive clemency, which covers administrative matters. There was no criminal prosecution in this case,” Bersamin said.
Mabilog’s clemency does not cover other possible cases beyond the scope of his petition. However, Bersamin stated that no additional cases were indicated in the terms of the President’s order.