The fight against corruption for Mayor Benjamin Magalong continues despite his resignation.
Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong said that he is not abandoning the fight against corruption despite the ICI resignation.
Days after he was declared as the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) special adviser, Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong tendered his resignation. He submitted his letter of resignation to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday, September 26.
To recall, President Bongbong Marcos created this independent body to investigate the anomalies in flood control projects. He has named former Department of Public Works and Highways(DPWH) secretary Rogelio “Babes” Singson and accountant Rossana Fajardo as members of the ICI apart from Magalong.
Regarding the resignation, Magalong was accused of potentially breaching multiple laws that prohibit government officials from holding dual positions simultaneously.
Moreover, the PHP 110-million tennis court and parking facility project in Baguio City drew scrutiny this week after records showed it was awarded to St. Gerrard Construction General Contractor and Development Corporation, a company tied to Sarah and Curlee Discaya, who are also linked to the flood control project controversy.
In a statement, Magalong made some clarifications regarding his resignation and explained that there is no conflict of interest. He expressed that his roles as Baguio Mayor and ICI special adviser have always aligned with this principle: “the highest standards of integrity in public service.”
“I refuse to allow these doubts to weaken the ICI and its mandate. That is why I have chosen to step aside, not to abandon the fight, but to protect the very integrity of the fight,” he said, adding that the commitment to truth and justice stands unshaken.
He vowed to continue his fight against corruption even outside the ICI, citing the same resolve he had shown during the 2015 Mamasapano clash investigation and the probe into the so-called “Ninja Cops.”
To recall, Magalong led the Philippine National Police’s Board of Inquiry that investigated the Mamasapano tragedy and served as Philippine National Police deputy director general and chief of the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.
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