27-1-2025 (MANILA) In a significant development that marks a departure from his predecessor’s hardline stance on drug-related cases, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr has extended executive clemency to Jed Mabilog, the former Mayor of Iloilo City who fled the Philippines in 2017 amidst allegations of narcotics involvement.
The presidential pardon, confirmed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, effectively clears Mabilog of pending charges before the Sandiganbayan Third Division for alleged violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, as well as separate charges at the Lapu-Lapu City Regional Trial Court concerning breaches of ethical standards for public servants.
Mabilog’s case gained national attention when former President Rodrigo Duterte publicly named him among several local government officials allegedly linked to illegal drug operations. The accusations prompted Mabilog and his family to seek refuge abroad, primarily in the United States, where they remained for seven years in what the former mayor described as self-imposed exile.
The former Iloilo City chief executive, who has consistently maintained his innocence, made a carefully planned return to Philippine soil in September 2024, signalling a dramatic shift in the political climate under the Marcos administration. His homecoming preceded this latest development by several months.
