Magalong declines Senate invite, prefers to testify before House first

Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong on Monday declined the invitation of the Senate blue ribbon committee to attend its public hearing into the anomalous flood control projects, saying that he intends to appear first before the House of Representatives where the "battle" is. 

Senate blue ribbon oversight office management director general Atty. Rodolfo Noel Quimbo said that Magalong was invited to the ongoing hearing but the mayor sent a letter of regret, saying that “he will testify in the House first.”

“The note is this, Your Honor. He’s anticipating that he will be called as resource person before the House of Representatives. He feels that his appearance before the Senate may preclude any actions that should be taken against all persons who are answerable. He thus commits that he will make himself available for the Senate as soon as his appearance is dispensed with before the House of Representatives,” Quimbo said. 

Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada expressed belief that Magalong’s letter was “valid enough for him to be excused in today’s hearing.”

But panel chairperson Senator Rodante Marcoleta was seemingly perplexed by the mayor’s refusal to attend the hearing.

“There is an invitation letter and I think the invitation letter was received by him. He declined to be present today because he is still anticipating that he will be invited by the House of Representatives. The reason that he gave is that he might or his presence here might preclude any action against those answerable… I don’t know how to process that. What does that mean?” Marcoleta asked. 

Senator JV Ejercito then cited a previous interview with Magalong where the mayor said that he prefers to appear before the lower chamber where the “battleground” is to present information on the questionable flood control projects. 

“But he is not the one to judge whether or not the action is in the House of Representatives or in the Blue Ribbon Committee of the Senate. I am not taking this against him but it is up to the wisdom of the members. Palagay ko hayaan na lang natin, hatulan na lang siya ng tao kung dapat nga siya nagpunta rito o hinatyin muna siya na siya’y imbitahin pa ng House of Representatives,” Marcoleta answered. 

(I think we should leave it at that and let the people judge him whether he should have just come here or wait to be invited by the House of Representatives.) 

“I think we have to leave it at that. What do you think? Bahala na lamang siya kung iniisip niya nandoon ang battleground at walang battle dito sa…Senate,” he added. 

(It's up to him if he thinks the battleground is in the House and there is no battle here in the Senate.) 

Marcoleta further emphasized that the Senate blue ribbon committee is “serious” in inviting Magalong in the hearing to help shed light on the flood control issues that the panel is deliberating on. 

To recall, Magalong, a retired police general, had disclosed that there were lawmakers allegedly receiving payoffs from infrastructure projects, including flood control programs. 

Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro said Magalong already submitted documents on the alleged corruption in flood control projects to the Office of the President.

Magalong also said that he is open to be part of the independent commission which will investigate anomalies concerning flood control projects. He, however, said there is no advice yet from the Office of the President regarding the matter. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News