Palace to Magalong: Prove 2025 budget being used as 'election fund'

Malacañang on Thursday challenged Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong to show proof of his claim that the national budget for fiscal year 2025 is being used as  an ''election fund.''

At a press briefing, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said that while she respects the statement of Magalong, it would be better if the mayor could support his claim with pieces of evidence. 

''Nais po natin, kay Mayor Magalong, ibigay po ang mga ebidensiya. Bigyan niya rin po kami dito sa PCO para malaman natin kung may katotohanan ba ang bintang na ito. Mahirap po kasi na ang bintang po ay pangkalahatan pero hindi naman po naibibigay ang pinakadetalye kasi makakasira po ito sa imahe ng gobyerno, sa pamahalaan; makasisira rin po ito sa lahat ng mga pulitiko na ang karamihan naman po ay inosente,'' Castro said. 

(We want Mayor Magalong to provide evidence. Give us here in PCO so we can verify his claims. It's difficult if he has claims that have no details and can destroy the image of the government. This will also destroy the image of innocent politicians.) 

''So kung mayroon pong ebidensiya, ito naman po ay may kaso na patungkol po sa GAA at sa enrolled bill, magbigay na lang po siya ng ebidensiya doon para kung mayroon pong issue ay mas maliwanag,'' she added. 

(So if he has evidence, well this is about the GAA and the enrolled bill, it's better if he gives proof on this issue.) 

Meanwhile, asked about Magalong's claim that he has been receiving death threats, 

Castro said it would be better if the former police official could prove this, given that he hailed from the Philippine National Police and knew how to investigate. 

''Kung mayroon pong death threats sa kaniya, hindi po natin alam kung saan ito galing. Kung mapapatunayan din po niya na ito ay galing sa kaniyang diumanong pag-i-expose dito sa election fund patungkol sa GAA, mas maganda po dati naman din po siya na naging parte ng PNP, magaling naman po siyang mag-imbestiga, ibigay lamang po niya ang lahat ng ebidensiya at tayo ay tutulong kung totoong may death threats,'' Castro said. 

(If ever there are death threats, we don't know where these came from. If he can prove that this also came from his revelations about the alleged election fund of the GAA, it's better that, as a former part of the PNP, he should show the evidence and we will help him with the death threats.) —LDF, GMA Integrated News