AN organization of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) yesterday questioned the grant of executive clemency to former Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog but not to Mary Jane Veloso.
In a social media post, Migrante International asked why President Marcos Jr. opted to grant clemency to Mabilog first while Veloso remains in prison.
“The corrupt and thieves in government, who committed grave sins to the people are not being held accountable. On the other hand, the poor and innocent, like Mary Jane Veloso, are being punished,” it said.
Migrante said such actions are unacceptable.
“Justice is for everyone, and not just the chosen ones,” it added.
In a resolution dated January 15, Marcos granted executive clemency to Mabilog on the basis of a petition seeking the removal of all administrative penalties meted against him in 2017.
Mabilog was ordered dismissed from service by the Office of the Ombudsman in October 2017 over graft charges for having unexplained wealth and for alleged conflict of interest.
On the other hand, Veloso remains imprisoned at the Correctional Institute for Women (CIW) in Mandaluyong City since her homecoming in December 2024.
Veloso returned home to the Philippines after the country forged a transfer of prison agreement with Indonesia, where she had been imprisoned since 2010 for drug trafficking.