BY GEROME DALIPE IV
ILOILO City – Was former city mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog offered executive amnesty in exchange for refraining from entering the mayoral race?
If talks were to be believed, Mabilog’s withdrawal from running for city mayor could have been part of negotiations involving a potential grant of executive clemency.
Mabilog officially announced on Tuesday during the proclamation rally of Team Sulong Gugma that he would not be running for mayor in the 2025 elections.
His withdrawal came as a surprise to many, as there had been widespread speculation about his potential political comeback, especially in tandem with Iloilo City Rep. Julienne Baronda, who is seeking re-election to Congress.
Mabilog’s announcement ended months of speculation about his re-entry into the political arena, after seven years of absence from the country.
Supporters believed he would stage a comeback alongside Baronda, forming a strong political alliance to challenge the incumbents in the 2025 elections.
During a press briefing held after the Team Sulong Gugma proclamation rally on Tuesday night, Mabilog expressed his awareness of the widespread expectation for his political comeback for the mayoral post in the upcoming 2025 elections.
He admitted that his legal team had actively sought legal remedies that would allow him to run for an elective position in the 2025 elections.
However, despite their efforts, they ultimately ran out of time to resolve the legal hurdles that stood in the way of his candidacy.
When asked if he would seek executive clemency to address his legal challenges, Mabilog emphasized that he would leave the matter in the hands of his legal team.
“My lawyers have given me full confidence that they can be able to address the matter because I was politically in asylum,” said Mabilog.
He also noted that his decision not to run for the mayoral post in the 2025 elections was a personal sacrifice made for the betterment of Iloilo City.
He described it as his “ultimate sacrifice,” implying that stepping aside was not an easy choice, but one that he believed was necessary for the city’s progress and stability.
“It’s the ultimate sacrifice that I have to give. I have made my decision. I prayed for it up to the last minute. I was told that I could file and let my legal team do the legal matters and they were quite confident that it can be resolved,” said Mabilog.
While explaining his decision not to run for mayor in the 2025 elections, Mabilog expressed confidence in Baronda’s leadership.
Mabilog is barred by law from running for any local elective office because of the dismissal order from the Ombudsman which carried the accessory penalty of perpetual disqualification to hold public office.
In his 19-page decision, Julius Matibag, graft investigation, and prosecution officer, found Mabilog administratively liable for grave misconduct, serious dishonesty, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.
The Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas imposed a penalty of dismissal from the service and ordered the cancellation of Mabilog’s eligibility, forfeiture of retirement benefits, and perpetual disqualification from holding public office and barred him from taking civil service examinations.
“Respondent is reminded that the Constitution stresses that a public office is a public trust and public officers must at all times be accountable to the people, serve them with utmost responsibility, integrity, loyalty, and efficiency, act with patriotism and justice, and lead modest lives,” the ombudsman’s decision read.
The case stemmed from an Iloilo City government contract awarded to 3L Towing Services in January 2015, which investigators claimed did not undergo public bidding.
Former city councilor Plaridel Nava II and Manuel Mejorada filed the complaint in 2015 accusing Mabilog of grave misconduct, dishonesty, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service./PN