Former mayor Jed Mabilog returns to Iloilo after seven years, on his 59th birthday

ILOILO, Philippines – Seven years was a long time for him to live in exile because the forces that chased him out were the very institutions meant to protect the public. 

Former Iloilo mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog, once forced to flee his city under the shadow of political hostility, made his long-awaited return on Friday morning, September 20. It was his 59th birthday.

Mabilog’s departure, nearly a decade ago, was not some minor detour but an escape, triggered by threats to his life and the safety of his family. It was August 29, 2017, when he left for a speaking engagement abroad – an event that would later evolve into an indefinite absence, leaving Iloilo’s leadership adrift. 

Then-president Rodrigo Duterte had labeled him a “narco politician,” a claim never proven but made potent by the political climate of the time, and threatened to add him to the list of high-profile drug suspects killed by authorities.

Mabilog flew from Metro Manila to Iloilo aboard Philippine Airlines Flight 2139, which landed past 6:30 am. He traveled without his family who stayed abroad.

He was greeted by more than 100 supporters at the airport along with Iloilo City Representative Julienne Baronda.

“Salamat gid sa iya pagdumdim kag pagsuporta (Thank you for your concerns and support),” Mabilog told his well-wishers at the airport.

Over 100 people also waited for him at his Molo residence where preparations were made for his homecoming and birthday.

Mabilog said, “After the darkest time in my life for seven years, it is now time for me to become a human rights advocate for those who were victims of oppression like me. Now, my feet are stronger than my fear. I have my voice now. I want to tell my story.”

Hope for vindication

He said he was hoping for vindication under the Marcos Jr. administration years after he was thrust into exile after being accused of ties to illegal drugs and threatened by ex-president Duterte.

Speaking at a press conference, Mabilog expressed his desire for justice after enduring years of what he calls false accusations that caused immense suffering for him and his family.

“Now, I hope that under President Bongbong Marcos, I will be given… my family will be given justice,” Mabilog said.

In 2017, Mabilog’s name figured in Duterte’s bloody war on drugs after the former president publicly accused him of protecting illegal drug syndicates in Western Visayas. 

Iloilo City was labeled the “most shabulized” city in the country, a stain that left Mabilog fighting for his reputation.

Mabilog, who has denied the allegations, sought political asylum in the United States, where he spent seven long years in exile. It was a period he describes as both “bad and beautiful” – a time of confusion and fear, but also of personal growth and reflection.

During his time abroad, Mabilog said he found solace in his faith and the love of his family.

While grappling with the weight of Duterte’s accusations, he focused on being a husband and father, an experience he described as “priceless.” Watching his children grow up, away from the public eye, became a precious gift, he said.

“Seeing my kids grow was a moment worth rekindling,” Mabilog said. “It made me appreciate the beauty of family and what it means to be present.”

But despite the joy that came from these moments, the pain of his exile was ever-present.

“Human as I am, I also asked myself several questions, several times that, until now, some remain unanswered,” he admitted. The hardest part, he said, was seeing his children in tears, asking about his case. 

“To be asked about my case is always the hardest point in my life. I can’t help but cry secretly,” he said.

He said he hopes to help others, particularly government officials, avoid becoming victims of what he calls “baseless accusations.”

“I want to help other chief executives, or government officials, on what to do in order not to become victims like me of any false accusations, especially related to illegal drugs,” he said.

Mabilog emphasized the importance of understanding anti-illegal drug policies and procedures to protect oneself from allegations.

Mabilog said he has chosen to look at the lessons learned, admitting that his time in exile taught him humility and made him a stronger person. 

“I now trust everything to the Lord. Everything happens for a reason,” Mabilog said. – Rappler.com