By: Villamor C. Visaya Jr.
(Published in its print edition on January 18-24, 2025)
AS President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. granted former Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog on Monday executive clemency on administrative penalties, the nation is divided on the real score of the government’s war against corruption.
While it is true that the President is vested with the power to grant executive clemency, the evidence pinning Mabilog must still be probed to show that Marcos is really hell-bent on putting a halt on the proliferation of graft and corruption in the country.
As a token of appreciation, Mabilog sent gratifying remarks to Marcos for lifting the sanctions against him. This has a bonus for him as his dismissal from government service with accessory penalties and a bar on reemployment was also lifted.
For Mabilog, he claims fairness and justice were served. A vindication of sorts.
No offense meant but “Mabilog’s long-standing commitment to good governance, coupled with awards and recognition received by Iloilo City under his leadership,” as announced by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, does not sit well with the fight against crimes.
It could be recalled that Mabilog was meted accessory penalties, including the cancellation of civil service eligibility, forfeiture of retirement benefits, and perpetual disqualification from holding office in a 13-page decision August 29, 2017 by the Ombudsman.
Earlier, the order stemmed from a complaint filed in 2013 by Manuel Mejorada, the former provincial administrator of Iloilo, accusing Mabilog of dishonesty and grave misconduct. This was due to the awarding of a government contract to a towing services firm in which Mabilog and former Iloilo City Councilor Plaridel Nava II allegedly had a vested interest.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government earlier enforced the dismissal order against Mabilog on October 23 2017 for violating Section 3(h) of Republic Act 3019.
The law is explicit under Section 3(h) of RA 3019. It prohibits public officers from having a financial interest in a business, contract, or transaction in which they participate in their official capacity. The sanctions included dismissal from government service with accessory penalties and a bar on reemployment.
Furthermore, Mabilog is also accused as one of those implicated in the list of “narco-politicians” during the height of the previous administration’s anti-illegal drug campaign. The former mayor has denied the accusations.
If this is the kind of government we have, many will no longer trust the justice system and the national government’s resolve against graft and corruption.
Come to think of it.#
