Former Iloilo major granted clemency
PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has granted executive clemency to former Iloilo City mayor Jed Mabilog, the local chief executive accused of being involved in the illegal drugs trade during the Duterte administration, Malacañang confirmed on Monday. "In view of former Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog's longstanding commitment to good governance, coupled with awards and recognition received by Iloilo City under his leadership, the president granted Mabilog's petition for executive clemency in connection with his administrative case, thereby removing the penalties or disabilities resulting from such case," Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said in a statement. Mabilog left the country in August 2017 in fear for his life after then-President Rodrigo Duterte included him in his list of "narco politicians." He only returned to the Philippines in September 2024. No drug-related cases have been filed against him to date. Mabilog, however, is facing charges of graft before the Sandiganbayan Third Division and violation of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees at the Lapu-Lapu City Regional Trial Court Branch 73 in Cebu. These cases were for his supposed meddling with the awarding of a government contract to a towing services firm in which he and former Iloilo city councilor Plaridel Nava II allegedly had an interest. Bersamin, in a separate interview, said penalties or disabilities in connection with Mabilog's administrative case would be removed as the Palace "found justification in his declarations, in his explanations." "He was able to make explanations and if he failed to make the explanations, it was because of the circumstances that forced him to leave," he said. "We granted his petition because he was able to explain why he did not, he was unable to answer, to explain the discrepancy in his SALN (Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth)." With the presidential pardon, there are now no more legal impediments should Mabilog again aspire for a public post in the future. "Yes, yes, this is an exercise of the power of the president to, for executive clemency, and that covers not only the criminal. But there was no criminal prosecution; there was only an administrative complaint that was decided by the Office of the Ombudsman," Bersamin said. "So, we will assume that there are no more because that's what he applied for. And we will presume that he knew all those cases that were brought against him, and that is where we [and] the president exercise his power of executive clemency," he concluded.
Tomas Kauer - Moderator 
PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has granted executive clemency to former Iloilo City mayor Jed Mabilog, the local chief executive accused of being involved in the illegal drugs trade during the Duterte administration, Malacañang confirmed on Monday.
"In view of former Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog's longstanding commitment to good governance, coupled with awards and recognition received by Iloilo City under his leadership, the president granted Mabilog's petition for executive clemency in connection with his administrative case, thereby removing the penalties or disabilities resulting from such case," Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said in a statement.
Mabilog left the country in August 2017 in fear for his life after then-President Rodrigo Duterte included him in his list of "narco politicians." He only returned to the Philippines in September 2024.
No drug-related cases have been filed against him to date.
Mabilog, however, is facing charges of graft before the Sandiganbayan Third Division and violation of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees at the Lapu-Lapu City Regional Trial Court Branch 73 in Cebu.
These cases were for his supposed meddling with the awarding of a government contract to a towing services firm in which he and former Iloilo city councilor Plaridel Nava II allegedly had an interest.
Bersamin, in a separate interview, said penalties or disabilities in connection with Mabilog's administrative case would be removed as the Palace "found justification in his declarations, in his explanations."
"He was able to make explanations and if he failed to make the explanations, it was because of the circumstances that forced him to leave," he said. "We granted his petition because he was able to explain why he did not, he was unable to answer, to explain the discrepancy in his SALN (Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth)."
With the presidential pardon, there are now no more legal impediments should Mabilog again aspire for a public post in the future.
"Yes, yes, this is an exercise of the power of the president to, for executive clemency, and that covers not only the criminal. But there was no criminal prosecution; there was only an administrative complaint that was decided by the Office of the Ombudsman," Bersamin said.
"So, we will assume that there are no more because that's what he applied for. And we will presume that he knew all those cases that were brought against him, and that is where we [and] the president exercise his power of executive clemency," he concluded.
