Jed Patrick Mabilog
Jed Patrick Mabilog | |
|---|---|
| Mayor of Iloilo City | |
| In office June 30, 2010 – October 30, 2017 | |
| Vice Mayor | Jose Espinosa III |
| Preceded by | Jerry Treñas |
| Succeeded by | Jose Espinosa III |
| Vice Mayor of Iloilo City | |
| In office June 30, 2007 – June 30, 2010 | |
| Mayor | Jerry Treñas |
| Preceded by | Victor Facultad |
| Succeeded by | Jose Espinosa III |
| Member of the Iloilo City Council from the Lone District | |
| In office 2004–2007 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Jed Patrick Escalante Mabilog September 20, 1965 Molo, Iloilo City, Philippines |
| Political party | Independent (2017–present) |
| Other political affiliations | PDP-Laban (2016–2017) Liberal (2009–2016) Lakas-CMD (2007–2009) |
| Spouse | Marivic Griengo-Mabilog |
| Children | 2 |
| Parent(s) | Jose Chavez Mabilog Melchorita Locsin Escalante |
| Education | University of the Philippines High School in Iloilo |
| Alma mater | West Visayas State University (BS) Ateneo de Manila University (MPM) University of the Philippines Visayas (MUP) University of Visayas (DMgt) |
| Occupation | Politician |
Jed Patrick Escalante Mabilog (born September 20, 1965) is a Filipino politician who previously served as the Mayor of Iloilo City from 2010 to 2017. He also previously served as vice mayor from 2007 to 2010.
In August 2017, Mabilog left the office of mayor and went into self-imposed exile due to threats to his life arising from accusations of being a drug protector during the Duterte administration. In September 2024, he returned to the Philippines and worked to clear his name.
Early life and education
[edit]Mabilog was born on September 20, 1965, and is the fifth of ten children of Jose Chavez Mabilog, a banker, and Melchorita Conlu Locsin Escalante, a former barangay captain of Barangay Tap-oc in Molo, Iloilo City. He attended Assumption Iloilo for elementary school and the University of the Philippines High School Iloilo (UPHSI) for high school. In 1986, he graduated from West Visayas State University (WVSU) with a Bachelor of Science degree, majoring in Biological Sciences. He subsequently enrolled in the same university to study medicine but left after three years.[1] He later attended Ateneo de Manila University, where he earned a Master of Public Administration degree, and pursued a Master in Urban and Regional Planning at the University of the Philippines Visayas, as well as a Doctor of Management degree at the University of the Visayas.
Political career
[edit]Mabilog's public service began during his college years when he was elected chairman of the Kabataang Barangay. His political career started in 2004 when he ran and won a seat as an Iloilo City Councilor. He ran for Vice Mayor of Iloilo City in 2007 and was elected to the position. In 2010, he ran for the mayoralty of Iloilo City and won against former Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales. He served three terms until 2017.
Allegations and later exile in the United States (2017–2024)
[edit]On August 7, 2016, Mabilog was accused and threatened by then-Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte of being a drug protector.[2] Duterte even questioned Mabilog's residence in Molo, Iloilo City, describing it as “more grandiose” than Malacañang, which raised questions about his wealth.[3] The allegation was categorically denied by Mabilog. He flew to the United States on August 30, 2017,[4] after attending a disaster management program in Japan and an urban environment accords forum in Malaysia.[5]
He did not return, leaving the office of mayor of Iloilo City vacant. The Ombudsman ordered the dismissal of Mabilog, and Vice Mayor Jose Espinosa III was appointed as the new mayor to serve the remainder of Mabilog's third term until 2019.[6]
Mabilog and his family subsequently filed for political asylum in the United States and said that he would only return to the Philippines until Duterte left the presidency.[7]
In 2021, the Court of Appeals (CA) dismissed an administrative complaint filed against Mabilog in connection with his alleged unexplained wealth, which had been the basis for his removal from office in 2017.[8]
Return to the Philippines
[edit]On September 10, 2024, Mabilog returned to the Philippines and surrendered himself to the National Bureau of Investigation to face graft charges.[9] He was released on September 11 after posting bail.[10]
Mabilog appeared in an inquiry by the House of Representatives Quad-Committee that he exiled himself due to threats to his life during the Duterte administration and that there was a plan to implicate him, 2016 presidential candidate and former Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas, and Mabilog's cousin, former Senator Franklin Drilon, as drug lords.[11]
Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Director General Moro Virgilio Lazo also confirmed that Mabilog was never included in the PDEA's narcotics drug list under the previous administration, despite his name appearing on the list produced by Duterte, alongside other political figures allegedly involved in illegal drugs.[12]
On September 20, 2024, Mabilog returned to Iloilo City after seven years in exile.[13]
Personal life
[edit]Mabilog is married to Marivic Griengo-Mabilog, who is the vice president for finance and comptroller of a geodetic engineering firm in Alberta, Canada.[8] They have two children and maintain their residence in Molo. Mabilog is also a second cousin of former Senator Franklin Drilon.[14]
Accolades
[edit]In 2014, Mabilog was named as "top 5 best and outstanding mayor in the world" in the 2014 World Mayor awards.[15] He was the only local chief executive from the Philippines to make it to the shortlist of 26 finalists from a total of 121 nominations around the world.[16]
References
[edit]- ^ "Reviewing the life of Jed Patrick Mabilog". Panay News. Retrieved August 5, 2022.
- ^ Nicolas, Jino (August 28, 2017). "Duterte cites Espenido's efforts in drug war". BusinessWorld Online. Retrieved August 5, 2022.
- ^ Jr, Nestor P. Burgos (November 2, 2017). "Mayor's 'mansion' now a tourism draw". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
- ^ Abanto, Rowegie (September 10, 2024). "EXCLUSIVE: Ex-mayor Mabilog, in tears, says he has forgiven Duterte". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
- ^ "Ex-Iloilo City mayor's wife: Duterte's new attacks mark of failure". RAPPLER. June 14, 2022. Retrieved August 5, 2022.
- ^ Burgos, Nestor P. Jr (October 30, 2017). "DILG installs new IloIlo City mayor". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved August 5, 2022.
- ^ "Ex-Mayor Mabilog, nakauwi na ng Pilipinas matapos ang pitong taong pagtatago sa abroad". Radio Mindanao Network (in Filipino). September 10, 2024. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
- ^ a b Rendon, Jennifer. "CA reverses ruling on Mabilog's dismissal". Philstar.com. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
- ^ "Ex-Iloilo mayor Mabilog surrenders to NBI". ABS-CBN. September 10, 2024. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
- ^ "Former Iloilo City mayor Jed Mabilog posted bail — Remulla". GMA News. September 11, 2024. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
- ^ Lalu, Gabriel Pabico (September 19, 2024). "Mabilog bares 'plan' to force him to tag Roxas, Drilon as 'drug lords'". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
- ^ Lalu, Gabriel Pabico (September 20, 2024). "PDEA confirms: Mabilog wasn't on initial narcolist, name was just added". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
- ^ G, Herbie (September 20, 2024). "Former mayor Jed Mabilog returns to Iloilo after seven years, on his 59th birthday". RAPPLER. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
- ^ Gonzales, Yuji Vincent (November 22, 2016). "Drilon denies drug links, says no proof vs 2nd cousin Iloilo mayor". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved August 5, 2022.
- ^ "World Mayor: The 2014 winners". www.worldmayor.com. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
- ^ "Mabilog, 5th in 2014 World Mayor awards". Iloilo Today. February 2, 2015. Retrieved August 5, 2022.