MANILA – President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. granted executive clemency to former Iloilo City Mayor Jed Mabilog, who was accused by former President Rodrigo Duterte of involvement in the illegal drug trade.

The resolution, which was signed on January 15, 2025, by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin and made public only on Monday, heeded Mabilog’s petition for executive clemency and the removal of all administrative penalties meted against him in 2017.

“In view of Mabilog’s long-standing commitment to good governance, coupled with the awards and recognition received by Iloilo under his leadership, his Office finds the grant of the Petition warranted. Wherefore, premises considered, the instant Petition for executive clemency and removal of administrative penalties for disabilities filed by Jed Patrick E. Mabilog is hereby granted,” the document said.

The grant of clemency came five months after his return to the country and covers all administrative liabilities that Mabilog sought to be expunged and restores his political rights.

However, “the terms of the order do not cover all (pending cases),” Bersamin said.

Mabilog was ordered dismissed from service by the Ombudsman in October 2017 over graft charges filed against him for unexplained wealth and alleged conflict of interest. He was also perpetually disqualified from running for public office.

Mabilog also drew the ire of Duterte, who publicly accused the former mayor of being a drug protector and placed him on the drug watch list.

Mabilog, along with his family, fled the country in 2017 and sought asylum in the United States. He returned in September 2024 and testified at the Quad Committee hearing that he was pressured to link former Senators Franklin Drilon and Mar Roxas to the illegal drug trade.

📷 Mayor Jed Mabilog