PRESIDENT Marcos Jr. has granted executive clemency to former Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog following his longstanding commitment to good governance and the numerous awards and recognitions Iloilo City received under his leadership.
Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, in a statement released to the media yesterday, said the clemency covers an administrative case lodged against Mabilog that had been decided by the Office of the Ombudsman.
“Given Mabilog’s long-standing 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,” Bersamin said.
In an interview, Bersamin clarified that “there was no criminal prosecution” against Mabilog mentioned when he applied for clemency.
He also added that with the executive clemency, Mabilog can now run for public office.
Acting Communications Secretary Cesar Chavez said the clemency covered Mabilog’s case with the Ombudsman which resulted in the former mayor’s dismissal on October 23, 2017 for violating Section 3(h) of Republic Act 3019, as implemented by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).
Section 3(h) of RA 3019 prohibits public officers from having financial interest in a business, contract, or transaction in which they participate in their official capacity.
The penalties include dismissal from service with accessory penalties and being barred from employment in any government position, as well as making a run for any public office.
The Ombudsman’s order stemmed from a complaint filed in 2013 by Manuel Mejorada, former Iloilo provincial administrator. It alleged dishonesty and grave misconduct related to the awarding of a government contract to a towing services firm in which the former mayor and a former Iloilo City councilor had a vested interest.
The increase in Mabilog’s wealth, based on a statement of assets and liabilities (SALN), was also questioned.
Bersamin said that in deciding to grant clemency, the President considered the explanation of Mabilog that “he was forced by circumstances to stay away from the Philippines to face the complaint that was filed against him at the time.”
In his petition for clemency, Mabilog said “he was also forced to leave the country because of the threat on his life that he perceived coming from the national leadership at that time. Then President (Rodrigo) Duterte accused him of being the drug lord of Iloilo City.”
Bersamin said whether that was true or not is irrelevant now, but after … the term of President Duterte expired and the new administration came in, Mr. Mabilog had more confidence and he returned to the country.
In explaining his inability to face the complaint against him, Mabilog faced the House of Representatives’ quad committee’s investigations into the extra-judicial killings (EJKs) and drug-related incidents under the Duterte administration.
Mabilog was included in Duterte’s “narcolist” of officials involved in illegal drugs, which he had vehemently denied.
No charges had been filed against Mabilog regarding illegal drugs but he went on a self-imposed exile for fear of his life and returned to the country after seven years.
Mabilog, in a Facebook post, said he is personally grateful to God and Marcos for granting him the executive clemency and his family is beyond happy for it.
“This serves not just as a vindication for the wrongful and deceitful cases filed against me but as the triumph of justice in this country. This administration upholds justice, which people like me, who are unjustly accused, can somehow be confident to avail themselves of vindication,” he said.
