‘VINDICATED’: Mabilog Says Executive Clemency Granted Due to Good Governance

By Jennifer P. Rendon

He prayed, God listened.

Former Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog said that his arduous journey to returning home has been a constant devotion for justice to prevail.

While it may not be the culmination but the executive clemency granted by President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. was surely a cherry on top.

After confirming that his request for executive clemency was granted, Mabilog had a thanksgiving mass at his residence in Molo, Iloilo City.

He was joined in by Representative Julienne Baronda of the lone district of Iloilo City and several supporters.

After the mass, Mabilog spoke to his supporters where he thanked Marcos, through Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, for granting his request for executive clemency.

He said they have seen through the good governance that happened in Iloilo City during his term as mayor from 2010 to 2017.

“I assure you po that I will continue to serve our people especially the Ilonggos according Sa inyong gusto which is good governance and according to what is morally right rather than what is politically right,” he said.

Mabilog added that the recent development is not just a vindication for the unjust and deceitful charges filed against him but the triumph of justice in the country.

He also thanked his wife, Marivic, and two children for standing by him until the truth comes out.

He cited that the resolution for his request for executive clemency and removal of administrative penalties and disabilities would clearly explain why such was granted.

“The resolution has explained what happened since I was chosen world mayor until we were given with seal of good governance and even the programs during my term. Again, it was granted because of good government during my leadership as Iloilo City mayor,” he said.

Meanwhile, Baronda has also expressed her gratitude to Marcos over Mabilog’s executive clemency.

“The prayers of thousands, who have witnessed how he gave it all for Iloilo City as our city mayor and how he loved the Ilonggos, have been heard. Justice is served,” Baronda said in a Facebook post.

RESOLUTION

It was gathered that Mabilog appealed for an unconditional pardon but was only granted executive clemency.

The seven-page resolution, which was signed by Bersamin on Jan. 15, 2025, was relative to the administrative cases filed against him by the Office of the Ombudsman, which found him guilty of Grave Misconduct, Serious Dishonesty, and Conduct Prejudicial to the Best Interest of the Service.

With the executive clemency, Mabilog is absolved of the administrative penalties, which makes him eligible to be appointed and elected.

But it can be noted that Mabilog was not eligible to file for certificate of candidacy last year.

Thus, it’s likely that he could vote and run for an elective post in the 2028 elections.

The resolution has cited the antecedents of Mabilog’s career starting when he was elected as chairman of the Kabataang Barangay of Tap-oc, Molo, Iloilo City.

In 2004, he ran and won a seat as a Councilor in Iloilo City. In 2007, he was elected as Vice-Mayor of Iloilo City.

In 2010, Mabilog ran and won for the mayoralty of Iloilo City.

But Mabilog’s political career went downhill when former President Rodrigo Duterte accused as a drug protector on live television on Aug. 7, 2016.

He then went into self exile until September 2024, when he returned to the country.

On Aug. 29, 2017, the Ombudsman ordered Mabilog’s dismissal from the service after finding him guilty of Serious Dishonesty for his failure to explain the P8,983,082.52 increase in his wealth.

The dismissal stemmed from the complaint for Dishonesty and Grave Misconduct filed against Mabilog by former Iloilo Provincial Administrator Manuel Mejorada sometime in 2013 due to Mabilog’s alleged unexplained wealth and the irregular appointment of the executive assistant for dengue concerns.

Notwithstanding Mabilog’s claim that the increase in his net worth was largely due to his wife’s income as comptroller in Canada and the acquisition of new properties, the Ombudsman held that Mabilog failed to present evidence of such income by his wife and their newly acquired properties. Mabilog appealed before the Court of Appeals.

On 23 October 2017, the Ombudsman ordered anew the dismissal from the service of Mabilog for Grave Misconduct, Serious Dishonesty, and Conduct Prejudicial to the Best Interest of the Service for violation of Section 3 of Republic Act (RA) No. 30194 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 provided for under RA No. 6957.

Mabilog filed an appeal before the Court of Appeals.

The Court of Appeals, in an Aug. 13, 2018 Resolution, dismissed the appeal of Mabilog relative to the anomalous MOA with 3L Towing Services.

On July 10, 2019, the Supreme Court issued a Resolution upholding the Court of Appeals dismissal of the appeal of Mabilog, relative to the anomalous MOA with 3L Towing Services. Said Resolution became final and executory on Feb. 5, 2020.

However, June 11, 2021, the Court of Appeals issued a decision reversing the Ombudsman’s earlier resolution and exonerating Mabilog of Serious Dishonesty for his alleged unexplained wealth, which was the basis for his removal from office in 2017.

Sometime in 2023, the Ombudsman filed against Mabilog criminal informations for violation of Section 3 of RA No. 3019 and the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees before the Sandiganbayan and the Regional Trial Court (RTC), Branch 73, Lapu-Lapu City, in relation to the anomalous MOA with 3L Towing Services. The Sandiganbayan and the RTC, Branch 73, Lapu-Lapu City, thereafter issued warrants of arrest against Mabilog.

On Sept. 10, 2024, Mabilog returned to the Philippines and surrendered himself to the National Bureau of Investigation to face the cases filed against him before the Sandiganbayan and the RTC, Branch 73, Lapu-Lapu City. He was released the following day after posting bail.

On Sept. 20, 2024, Mabilog filed with this Office the instant Petition, seeking to remove the administrative penalties meted out against him in the Oct. 23, 2017 Decision of the Sandiganbayan, which found him guilty of Grave Misconduct, Serious Dishonesty, and Conduct Prejudicial to the Best Interest of the Service.

The subject Petition was indorsed to the Civil Service Commission (CSC) on Sept., 26, 2024 for its appropriate action/recommendation.

On Sept. 30, 2024, Mabilog filed a letter requesting the this Office to issue an order directing the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) to allow him to exercise his political rights to vote and be voted upon, pending final resolution of the instant Petition.

Mabilog averred that the issuance of said order would correct the injustice that has been done to him since the charges and accusations leveled against him were politically motivated.

Mabilog further alleged that with the issuance of the subject order, the grant of pardon by the President would not only restore his personal honor but also the integrity of the democratic process.

But his request was denied for lack of legal basis as Constitutional Commissions, such as the COMELEC, are not under the control of the President in the discharge of such functions.

In granting executive clemency to Mabilog, the resolution took into accounts that he was noted as Top 5 of the 2014 World Mayor Prize and was recognized as a Livable Cities Champion by the Asian Development Bank.

It also cited Iloilo City’s accolades during his term.

It was also during his term when the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency gave the Iloilo City Anti-Drug Abuse Council a plaque of recognition for its anti-illegal drug abuse drive in 2016.

The resolution also took into consideration that Iloilo City was ranked among the Top 10 Next Wave Cities for 2010 and 2012 by the Information and Communications Technology Office of the Department of Science and Technology and the Business Processing Association of the Philippines.

“In view of Mabilog’s long-standing commitment to good governance, coupled with the awards and recognition received by Iloilo City under his leadership, this Office finds the grant of the Petition warranted,” the resolution added.