Magalong: Crusade vs. corruption continues even after leaving independent commission

Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong vowed Saturday that he would continue to fight corruption in government even after his resignation from the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), the body formed by President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. to investigate anomalous flood control projects.

In a statement, Magalong insisted that there was no conflict of interest in his role in the ICI as special adviser and investigator. He stepped aside from the post, the mayor said, to protect the integrity of the ICI and its mission to stomp out corruption.

He rallied Filipinos to prepare for a long battle, saying those behind the corrupt practices are "deeply entrenched" and must be matched by the will of his countrymen.

"Remember this: This will be a long fight, and we must be prepared to play the long game. The forces of corruption are deeply entrenched, but so too is the Filipino spirit of resilience and courage. Change will not happen overnight. As long as we remain vigilant, as long as we continue to resist, and as long we keep faith in our country, then we will prevail," Magalong said.

He added, "The power of the people will always be stronger than the power of the few. The crusade against corruption continues."

The mayor's statement came in the morning after Malacañang announced that Magalong had resigned from the ICI. The Palace had said Marcos will have a legal study review if the Magalong's designation was proper, and that the President wanted to avoid a conflict of interest. 

Marcos would not want Magalong to be remiss in his mayoral duties to the people of Baguio City, according to Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro.

In his resignation letter, Magalong said Malacañang's pronouncements concerning his designation and the terms of my appointment "have undermined the role and mandate entrusted to me."

READ: Opisyal na pahayag ni Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong matapos siyang magbitiw bilang special adviser ng Independent Commission for Infrastructure. | via @SurfaceCarlo pic.twitter.com/bxTFUuShPm

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Without mentioning specifics, Magalong noted "circumstances that already cast doubt on the independence" of the ICI, leaving him with the opinion that it became "clear that my continued service is no longer tenable."

The integrity of the fight

Magalong addressed the conflict of interest concern, and continued to reference supposed doubts on the commission's integrity in his statement on Saturday morning.

"Once and for all, I would like to make it clear that there is no conflict of interest in my role. My work as Mayor of Baguio and my service with the ICI have always been guided by one principle: the highest standards of integrity in public service. However, recent developments have cast doubt on the independence of the Commission. Independence is the bedrock of accountability, and without it, our credibility is compromised," Magalong said.

"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 integrity of the fight," Magalong added.

'Unfortunate'

In a message to reporters on Saturday, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Dave Gomez said it was "unfortunate" that Magalong resigned.

"The demand of the Filipino people from the Independent Commission on Infrastructure is higher than any one person. The commission, made up of distinguished professionals with unassailable integrity, has hit the ground running on day 1," Gomez said.

The PCO chief added that the Palace "respects the autonomy" of the commission. "Let's allow them to do their job and deliver on their mandate," he said.

Marcos had said he chose Magalong as special adviser of the ICI because of his integrity and track record as an investigator.

READ MAGALONG'S PROFILE: Who are the people on the Independent Commission for Infrastructure? 

Magalong was a former chief of the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP CIDG) and was the top investigator of the Mamasapano incident in 2015. 

He had a 38-year career in the PNP prior to his election in 2019 as mayor of Baguio City.

"My commitment to truth and justice remain steadfast. Whether within or outside the ICI, I will continue this crusade against corruption with the same resolve I have carried in every battle I have faced: from Mamasapano, to the Ninja Cops probe, to standing up to traditional politics, and now to exacting accountability from those who plunder public funds," Magalong said.

"We should never allow corrupt political leaders and bureaucrats to steal the future of our children, and most importantly, the future of our country. Every peso stolen from the people is not just an act of theft. It is a school left unfinished, a hospital without medicine, a bridge that collapses, a nation's hopes betrayed. The greatest injustice is that corruption robs the people of their safety and their future," he added.

ICI mandate

Under Executive Order 94, the ICI the three-man commission is composed of a chairperson and two members who shall be persons of proven competence, integrity, probity, and independence. 

Magalong's post as special adviser and investigator is separate from the commission member designation.

The ICI has been tasked to investigate and evaluate evidence, intelligence reports, and information, against all government officials and employees, as well as any other individual, involved in anomalies, irregularities, and misuse of funds in the planning, financing, and implementation of government flood control and other infrastructure projects across the country.

The body shall prioritize the investigation of flood control and other infrastructure projects within the last 10 years from the effectivity of the order. 

Based on its findings, the body shall recommend civil and administrative cases or actions against those responsible to the appropriate disciplinary, prosecutorial, and administrative bodies, such as the Office of the President, Office of the Ombudsman, the Department of Justice, and the Civil Service Commission. — VDV, GMA Integrated News