In a significant move, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has granted executive clemency to Jed Patrick Mabilog, the former mayor of Iloilo City. This decision was confirmed by Malacañang, with Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin announcing the news via text message to reporters. The clemency effectively removes any penalties or disabilities associated with Mabilog’s administrative case, which led to his dismissal in 2017 on charges of misconduct and dishonesty.
Mabilog, who had been included in former President Rodrigo Duterte’s controversial ‘narcolist,’ vehemently denied any involvement in illegal drugs. Despite the accusations, no formal charges were ever brought against him in relation to drug activities. Fearing for his safety, Mabilog left the Philippines for a self-imposed exile in the United States, returning only after seven years on September 10.
Upon his return, Mabilog appeared before a House of Representatives quad committee hearing on September 19, 2024, to address the allegations against him. He continues to face graft charges from the Office of the Ombudsman, accused of interfering with the awarding of a government contract to a towing services firm, in which he and a former Iloilo City Councilor allegedly had a vested interest.
Bersamin justified the clemency by citing Mabilog’s inability to respond to questions about his wealth due to his absence from the country, as well as the perceived threat to his life from the national leadership at the time. The executive clemency now allows Mabilog to run for public office once again, marking a new chapter in his political career.