President Marcos has granted former Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog executive clemency, allowing him to run again for office, Malacañang confirmed Monday morning, Jan. 27.

In a text message, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin confirmed statements from Mabilog’s camp about the executive clemency. 

A seven-page resolution signed by Bersamin on Jan. 15 cited Mabilog's "long-standing commitment to good governance, coupled with the awards and recognition received by Iloilo City under his leadership" as the reason behind the grant of clemency.

The grant of executive clemency came with the "removal of administrative penalties or disabilities" that Mabilog had filed.

Mabilog had been embroiled in a legal battle stemming from drug charges filed against him in 2017, which led to his departure from the Philippines after former president Rodrigo Duterte included him in his drug watch list in August 2016. Mabilog denied ties to the drug trade.

He returned to the Philippines from the US in September last year.

In 2023, the Office of the Ombudsman filed a case against the former local chief executive before the Sandiganbayan for allegedly interfering in the awarding of a government contract to a towing services firm in which he and another official had an interest.

Upon his return, he proceeded to the Sandiganbayan, where he posted a P90,000 bail for temporary freedom.

Mabilog ran for mayor of Iloilo City in 2010 and served the post for three terms until August 2017 when the Ombudsman ordered his dismissal after he was found guilty of serious dishonesty for failure to explain the P8.9-million increase in his wealth.

In an interview on Monday morning, Jan. 27, Bersamin said they found Mabilog's explanation for his inability to explain his wealth justified.

"Because he was forced by circumstances to go to another jurisdiction and to stay away from the Philippines for some time, and we found justification in his declarations," he told reporters.

"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 was forced to leave the country because of the threat on his life that he perceived coming from the national leadership at that time," he added.

The grant of clemency would mean Mabilog is free to run for office again, Bersamin said.

"Yes [he can run again]. This is an exercise of the power of the President 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," he said.

'Grateful'

In a statement, Mabilog said he was "grateful to God and President Marcos" for granting him executive clemency.

"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," he said.

"This administration upholds justice, which people like me, who are unjustly accused, can somehow be confident to avail themselves of vindication," he added.

According to Mabilog, his seven years of exile taught him lessons, specifically on building and rebuilding a community that requires "love and integrity." 

'Reward'

Meanwhile, former presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo described the grant of clemency on Mabilog as a reward for attacking Duterte.

"The pardon granted Mabilog on his administrative, obviously, is a reward for attacking and besmirching the integrity and reputation of former Rodrigo Roa Duterte, who is a critic of the administration," he said.