By ERWIN ‘AMBO’ DELILAN
FORMER Iloilo City mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog is home at last after seven years in exile in the US. His homecoming on Friday, September 20, also coincided with his 59th birthday thus the hyper-local news.
Well, everybody in Negros and Panay knows the story of Mayor Jed, why he fled and hid in the US. But for those who don’t know yet, let’s make a bit of a rewind.
Then-president Rodrigo Duterte, in 2016, accused him of having links to illegal drug syndicates. Jed, for several times, denied such accusation.
But to save himself and his family, Jed abandoned his post as mayor of Iloilo, sought political asylum in the US, and the rest is history.
‘BAD AND BEAUTIFUL’ LIFE
But what happened to Jed in seven years while in exile?
What things did he learn amid “fearful years of hiding in the US, and how did Jed ace the many challenges he met?
I got the chance to meet Jed face-to-face in Manila before he found himself in the midst of lawmakers in the House of Representatives’ Quad-Committee on Thursday, September 19.
In a no-holds-barred discussion, Jed poured out everything and what he feels for having both “bad and beautiful” life in exile. He shed tears. Normal! He’s a human being after all.
Well, why bad?
Jed said he suffered many sleepless nights due to the “sting” of Duterte’s accusation.
Worse, his mom died and was buried without him seeing her.
Too, until now, he struggles to find answers to his kids’ questions about his case. In this, he admitted crying secretly away from his family.
But why beautiful as well?
Jed said that for seven years he was given precious opportunities to be with his loved ones. Cooking meals for his wife and kids, seeing them grow up as teenagers were “priceless moments”.
And to be exact, during the darkest moment in his life, Jed claimed: “I became a good husband to my wife, Marivic, and a good father to my kids.”
These twists and turns in Jed’s life are “hailable”, indeed.
FAITH STRONGER THAN FEAR
Rising above the avalanche of fear, nervousness, anxieties and uncertainties, Jed made steady with his faith in God.
Yes, there were moments he asked God: Why? But at the end of the day, he realized that God has really better plans for him – may be not now, not tomorrow, but maybe soonest!
Also, one thing sure for Jed is, he said, “My faith is now stronger than my fear.”
Jed is now ready for any eventualities – come hell or high water, right?
This, as he stressed that he is now more than willing to tell his tale – how he was victimized by baseless or unfounded accusations and how he fought every inch of fear.
So, the next chapter: “Jed The Speaker” because he wants to convert himself into a human rights advocate, resource speaker to help other victims of oppression by “mighty” beings on how to say the word STOP.
HUMILITY
Meanwhile, one thing also “praisable” about Jed’s homecoming is his confession about humility.
Before he said, he loved to make plans, to proposed projects and programs or to think of everything for his life, family and politics.
But now, he realized that it’s God that have the best plans for him.
What he or us need to do is to surrender everything to God, and simply trust His timing. In humility, he said, there’s “power” beyond comprehension.
‘STRONGER JED’
Yes, Jed is home, but he is no longer the Jed seven years ago. He is now the “stronger version” of himself ready to “rumble” for the sake of two powerful words – JUSTICE and TRUTH.
Believing now that God is everywhere, Jed is ready to speak about the truth and nothing but the truth.
Knowing now that injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere, Jed vows to be an agent of change and hope.
So, let’s see what’s next./PN
