Ex-Iloilo City councilor wants high court to review Mabilog’s clemency
FILE PHOTO: Jed Patrick Mabilog. INQUIRER/Grig C. Montegrande
ILOILO CITY — A former councilor in this city is seeking the intervention of the Supreme Court (SC) to look into the executive clemency granted by President Marcos to former mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog.
Plaridel Nava said he would file a petition for certiorari before the SC to contest Mabilog’s clemency.
He believed the president, through his executive secretary, committed a grave abuse of discretion in granting clemency to Mabilog.
“The executive clemency granted to Jed Patrick Mabilog is tainted with legal flaws. I will challenge it before the Supreme Court,” Nava said in a statement.
According to him, the high court earlier ruled that an administrative dismissal issued by the Office of the Ombudsman cannot be subject to executive clemency.
Article continues after this advertisement“Besides, Mabilog is still facing criminal cases with the Sandiganbayan that makes him ineligible for any presidential pardon,” Nava said.
Article continues after this advertisementIn October 2017, the anti-graft office dismissed Mabilog from office for having a direct financial interest in creating 3L Towing Services, which later entered into a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the city government of Iloilo represented by him to undertake the camping and/or towing of illegally parked vehicles in the city without undergoing the competitive processes.
The criminal aspect of the case is still pending in the Sandiganbayan and a trial court.
In its resolution dated Jan. 15, the Office of the President (OP) said an executive clemency rests exclusively within the sound discretion of the country’s top official.
It also took into consideration the awards received by Iloilo City under Mabilog’s watch as well as the former mayor’s award of being voted as top 5 of the 2014 World Mayor Prize and as a Livable Cities Champion by the Asian Development Bank.
The OP’s resolution was signed on behalf of the President by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin.
Meanwhile, Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas extended his good wishes to Mabilog when he learned that the former mayor was granted an executive clemency by President Marcos.
In a statement posted on his social media page, Treñas expressed hope that the development may serve as a new beginning for Mabilog and his family.
“On the executive clemency, I congratulate former Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog and his family on this significant milestone,” the mayor said.
“May this serve as a new chapter of peace and hope for them,” he added.
READ: Mabilog’s clemency a ‘reward for attacking’ Duterte – Panelo
