Former Iloilo City mayor Jed Mabilog attends the Quad Comm hearing, September 19, 2024. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

Congress Quad Comm Hearing on POGO

Pia Gutierrez

Katrina Domingo

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/173794206791420240919-quadcomm-mabilog-jed-MD-3.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Former Iloilo City mayor Jed Mabilog attends the Quad Comm hearing, September 19, 2024. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News</span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has granted executive clemency to former Iloilo City Mayor Jed Mabilog, who had fought allegations of drug trade links under the previous Duterte administration, the Palace confirmed Monday.</p><p>Marcos cited Mabilog’s “long standing commitment to good governance, coupled with awards and recognition received by Iloilo City under his leadership” in granting executive clemency to the former mayor, Bersamin said.</p><p>He said this removes the penalties or disabilities resulting from Mabilog&#x27;s administrative case, which meant that he was eligible to run for public office again.</p><p>In 2017, Mabilog and his family left the country after then President Rodrigo Duterte listed him among the politicians who allegedly had links to the illegal drug trade, which the then mayor denied.</p><p>In the same year, the Ombudsman Mabilog for graft “for having a direct financial interest in creating 3L Towing Services which later entered into a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the City Government of Iloilo, represented by Mabilog, to undertake the clamping and/or towing of illegally parked vehicles in Iloilo City, without undergoing the competitive processes.”</p><p>The dismissal order came with the cancellation of Mabilog’s civil service eligibility, forfeiture of retirement benefits, perpetual disqualification from holding public office and prohibition from taking civil service examinations.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/9/10/ex-mayor-mabilog-in-tears-says-he-has-forgiven-duterte-1135">EXCLUSIVE: Ex-mayor Mabilog, in tears, says he has forgiven Duterte</a><br/><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/9/10/ex-iloilo-mayor-mabilog-surrenders-to-nbi-1924">Ex-Iloilo mayor Mabilog surrenders to NBI </a></div><p>“We granted his petition [for clemency] 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),” Bersamin said.</p><p>“He was forced by circumstances to go to another jurisdiction and to stay away from the Philippines for some time… He was also forced to leave the country because of a threat on his life that he perceived coming from the national leadership at that time, President Duterte accused him of being the drug lord in iloilo city. Whether that is true or not, that is irrelevant now,” the Palace official added.</p><p>Mabilog returned to the Philippines in September 2024 after his 7-year self-exile in the US.</p><p>In a statement, he thanked Marcos Jr. for granting his plea for clemency.</p><p>“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,” the former mayor said.</p><p>“This administration upholds justice, which people like me, who are unjustly accused, can somehow be confident to avail themselves of vindication,” Mabilog said.</p><p>“My 7 years of exile taught me very beautiful lessons, but foremost among them is this: to build and rebuild the community, we need love and integrity. My family is beyond happy,” he added.</p><div><em><strong></strong></em></div><p>His lawyer Jeric Jucaban also expressed gratitude to the President. </p><p>“Today we celebrate a remarkable victory! A heartfelt thank you to President Bongbong Marcos for granting clemency to former Mayor Jed Mabilog. This incredible news represents not only a new chapter for Mayor Mabilog and his family but also validation for those who believed in justice and second chances,” Jucaban said in a Facebook post.</p><p>The Office of the President has yet to provide to the media a full copy of the decision, which was issued by Malacañang on January 15, 2024.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/9/19/mabilog-reveals-alleged-plan-to-force-him-to-tag-roxas-drilon-as-drug-lords-1111">Mabilog reveals alleged 2017 plan to force him to tag Roxas, Drilon as &#x27;drug lords&#x27;</a><br/><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/9/20/dela-rosa-calls-mabilog-s-quad-comm-testimony-as-part-of-demolition-job-1540">Dela Rosa says Mabilog’s quad comm testimony part of ‘demolition job’</a></div><p>Meanwhile, Sen. Ronald dela Rosa said he had no problem with the executive clemency for Mabilog.</p><p>&quot;Hindi man siya yung kasi niya is not drug related, it is an administrative case for disbursement of funds I think about the contract, contracts. Okay lang po sa akin. Wala po akong complaint diyan,” said Dela Rosa, an ally of  Duterte.</p><p>Dela Rosa, a former PNP chief, added that he had been “very much willing to help him (Mabilog) clear his name before President Duterte.” </p><p>“Dahil nakikita ko naman na nagsumikap din siya on his part na gampanan yung kanyang papel bilang mayor. But na-overwhelm lang talaga siya  ng sa napakalaking problema ng droga sa siyudad niya during the time. At baka, hindi natin alam, natatakot siya sa mga drug lord, di ba?&quot; Dela Rosa said.</p><p>&quot;Itong executive clemency, that&#x27;s another case. It&#x27;s not drug-related, kungdi purely administrative case yan about the use of fund ata di so, wala ko problema,&quot; he added. — With a report from RG Cruz, ABS-CBN News  <strong></strong><br/></p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS:</strong></div><div><iframe width="1080" height="608" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1zludn4CpMQ" title="EXCLUSIVE: Ex-mayor Mabilog, in tears, says he has forgiven Duterte | ABS-CBN News" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div><iframe width="1080" height="608" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RsrPCNztpJI" title="Jed Mabilog idinetalye ang karanasan matapos idawit sa droga | TV Patrrol" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div>

<p>President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has granted executive clemency to former Iloilo City Mayor Jed Mabilog, the Palace confirmed Monday. </p>

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has granted executive clemency to former Iloilo City Mayor Jed Mabilog, the Palace confirmed Monday.

Marcos grants executive clemency to ex-mayor Mabilog: Palace | ABS-CBN

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Marcos grants executive clemency to ex-mayor Mabilog: Palace

Marcos grants executive clemency to ex-mayor Mabilog: Palace

Pia Gutierrez,

Katrina Domingo,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jan 27, 2025 09:42 AM PHT

|

Updated Jan 27, 2025 08:05 PM PHT

Read More:

Marcos Jr

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Rodrigo Duterte

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