Palace: Magalong's appointment as ICI special adviser to be reviewed

Amid questions on the appointment of Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong as special adviser to the Independent Commission for Infrastructure, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. will have the legal team study if his designation was proper. 

This was according to Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro on Friday, saying that the President wants to avoid conflict of interest.

“Nadinig po din natin ang kagalang-galang na Mayor Magalong na nauubusan na yata siya or busy siya or kinukulang na ang oras niya sa Baguio City dahil busy siya sa ICI. Hindi po gugustuhin ng Pangulong Marcos Jr. na makaligtaan ni Mayor Magalong ang mga kababayan natin sa Baguio City. At kailangan unahin po rin ang mga kababayan natin sa Baguio City dahil siya po ay special adviser hindi naman po niya kinakailangan na ubusin ang oras sa ICI dahil hindi po siya miyembro ng ICI,” Castro said during a press briefing. 

(We heard Mayor Magalong’s sentiments that he’s been very busy with the ICI and it seems that he lacks time for Baguio City. The President does not want Mayor Magalong to forget Baguio City. He needs to prioritize Baguio City as he’s only a special adviser and not a member of the ICI.)

“At ang tungkol naman po sa tennis court na diumano ay maanomalya at dahil dito po nakausap po natin ang Pangulo kahapon at kung may issue po tungkol sa conflict of interest at paglabag sa Konstitusyon dahil nagdadalawang trabaho siya, ang sabi po ng Pangulo ay ipapaaral niya ito sa legal team at kung saan po siya maaaring maisama or saan po siya nararapat ay doon po siguro siya puwedeng isama para po hindi ma-compromise ang independence ng ICI at hindi rin po magkaroon ng violation sa anumang batas,” she added. 

(As regards the allegedly anomalous tennis court, we’ve talked to the President and if there’s an issue of conflict of interest and alleged violation of the 1987 Constitution, the President said he would have the legal team study this so that he can be assigned in the proper post without compromising the independence of the ICI and to not violate the law.)

Marcos had explained why he appointed Magalong as special adviser of the ICI, which is investigating anomalous flood control projects. 

He said Magalong has since been an investigator, noting his key role in the investigation of the Mamasapano incident in 2015.

Marcos earlier said he believes that the former police officer could contribute a lot to the investigation.  — RSJ, GMA Integrated News