ILOILO CITY — Former Iloilo City mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog attributed the granting of his executive clemency on his administrative cases to his unwavering faith in God.

Mabilog, in a press conference at his residence in the Molo district on Monday, revealed how he had prayed fervently for his return to the country since 2023.
He said his goal was to clear his name of the charges filed against him and address the allegations made by former president Rodrigo Duterte, who had accused him of involvement in the illegal drug trade.
'I thank God, especially Our Lady of Guadalupe, whom I prayed to on Dec. 12, 2023, asking through her intercession that I be brought back home to the Philippines so I could share my story,' Mabilog said.
'It hasn't even been a year, yet God truly listened to His mother, just as He listened when she asked Him to turn water into wine,' he added.
Mabilog fled the country in 2017, fearing for his life and the safety of his family, following Duterte's public accusations. He returned on Sept. 10, 2024, after around seven years in exile.
Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said Mabilog's clemency was granted due to his 'long-standing commitment to good governance,' as well as the awards and recognition Iloilo City received during his tenure as mayor.
The clemency was outlined in a seven-page resolution dated Jan. 15, 2025, which was made public on Jan. 28, 2025.
The clemency removes all administrative penalties from Mabilog's previous dismissal and restores his rights to vote and be elected or appointed to government positions.
Mabilog had been dismissed from public service by the Ombudsman in October 2017 over allegations of unexplained wealth and conflict of interest.
These accusations stemmed from a complaint filed in 2013 by former Iloilo provincial administrator Manuel Mejorada, relating to the awarding of a government contract to a towing services firm.
CIty Mayor Jerry Treñas described the clemency as 'a new chapter of peace and hope' for the city. Lone District Rep. Julienne Baronda, who played a crucial role in Mabilog's return, celebrated the development as a triumph of justice.
'The prayers of thousands, who have witnessed how he has given it all for Iloilo City as our city mayor and how he has loved the Ilonggos, have been heard. Justice is served,' she said.
However, not everyone welcomed Malacañang's decision.
Former city councilor Plaridel Nava II, who was also implicated in the towing services controversy, plans to challenge the clemency before the Supreme Court, claiming that it was 'tainted with legal flaws.'
'I will challenge it before the Supreme Court, which ruled that an administrative dismissal issued by the Office of the Ombudsman cannot be subject to an executive clemency,' he said.
The SC in Llamas vs Orbos (G.R. 99031) has previously affirmed the president's authority to grant executive clemency in administrative cases. The Court reasoned that if the president can grant reprieves, commutations, and pardons in criminal cases, then he can also grant executive clemency in administrative cases.
Nava pointed out that Mabilog still faces a pending criminal case with the Sandiganbayan related to alleged violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, specifically concerning a towing company contract during his mayoral term.