President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has officially appointed former Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog as Undersecretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Malacañang announced on Wednesday.
The appointment marks a significant political comeback for Mabilog, who recently served as a special adviser to the Speaker of the House of Representatives after returning from years of self-imposed exile.
Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro confirmed the designation, noting Mabilog’s new role in the department responsible for public safety and local government oversight.
Mabilog’s trajectory changed drastically in 2016 when he was included in former President Rodrigo Duterte’s “narco-list,” an accusation that forced him to flee to the United States citing threats to his life.
In 2017, he was dismissed from service for serious dishonesty following an unexplained ₱8.9 million increase in his wealth, a ruling that carried the penalty of perpetual disqualification from public office.
However, the tide turned in September 2024 when Mabilog returned to the Philippines to testify in congressional hearings and clear his name. By January 2025, President Marcos granted him executive clemency.
The Palace justified the clemency by citing Mabilog’s “exemplary record in governance” and the numerous international and local leadership awards Iloilo City received during his tenure.
The executive act effectively wiped away his administrative penalties and restored his political rights.