A former councilor of the City of Iloilo has filed formally a petition for certiorari at the Supreme Court on the executive clemency granted by President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. to Jed Patrick Mabilog, former mayor of Iloilo City.
Former city councilor Plaridel Nava II filed the petition on February 26, 2025.
The President granted executive clemency to Mabilog on January 27, 2025 that restores the rights of Mabilog to vote and to seek public office.
In Nava’s petition, he said that the granting of an executive clemency to Mabilog is “unconstitutional.”
He cited that the Office of the President should not have intervened in the decision of the Ombudsman.
Nava pointed out that there was no procedural due process in the granting of executive clemency as the public was not given the opportunity to submit an opposition when the former mayor applied for clemency.
Further, Nava said, an executive clemency can be granted for criminal cases only, not for administrative cases.
He said he trusts that the Supreme Court will hear out his petition.
“Naniniwala kami na ang pagbigay ng clemency is just a political accommodation and not within the bounds of the law,” Nava said.
He further stated that the filing of the said petition has nothing to do with politics as he and Mabilog are not candidates in the May 2025 midterm elections.
“It is not political kasi hindi naman ako kandidato. Si Mabilog hindi rin kandidato. Ano politika dyan? Mabilog has to suffer the consequences ng kanyang pag-abuso sa pwesto. Ang pagbigay ng clemency sa kanya is baseless,” he pointed out.
GMA Regional TV One Western Visayas coordinated with a representative of Mabilog for an interview, but Mabilog was reportedly in Manila at that time.
However, in a statement released by Mabilog, he said he is open to the petition filed by Nava.
He said he believes in the rule of law and due process.
Mabilog added that the granting of the executive clemency went through legal process and not a subject of personal biases or political agenda.
He also said that he trusts the wisdom of officials who have reviewed his case.
ADMINISTRATIVE CASE
In a news release of the Presidential Communications Office on January 27, 2025 it was pointed out that the executive clemency was for an administrative case.
“Given former Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog’s longstanding commitment to good governance, coupled with awards and recognition received by Iloilo City under his leadership, the President granted Mabilog’s petition for executive clemency in connection with his administrative case, thereby removing the penalties or disabilities resulting from such case,” Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said in a statement.
"The Office of the Ombudsman dismissed Mabilog on October 23, 2017, for violating Section 3(h) of Republic Act 3019, as implemented by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).
"Section 3(h) of RA 3019 prohibits public officers from having financial interest in a business, contract, or transaction in which they participate in their official capacity.
"The penalties imposed included dismissal from the service with accessory penalties and bar re-employment,""" the report read.
"The order stemmed from a complaint filed in 2013 by Manuel Mejorada, the former provincial administrator of Iloilo, alleging dishonesty and grave misconduct related to the awarding of a government contract to a towing services firm in which the former mayor and a former Iloilo City Councilor had a vested interest," the report added.
With the executive clemency granted, Mabilog is now allowed to run for public office, according to Bersamin.
