Malacañang announced Friday that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has ordered his legal team to review the appointment of Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong as special adviser to the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI).
Magalong serves as the special adviser of the commission created by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., which was tasked to investigate irregularities in public works projects.
The directive comes after concerns were raised about a possible conflict of interest and constitutional implications, given Magalong’s role in ICI while serving as an incumbent mayor. The issue has also been linked to questions surrounding an allegedly anomalous tennis court project in Baguio City, connected to the St. Gerrard property owned by the Discaya family.
In a Palace briefing, Press Officer Usec. Claire Castro clarified that Magalong was tapped only as a special adviser, stressing that he is neither a member of the ICI nor its lead investigator.
She also underscored that Magalong holds no authority over the Philippine National Police (PNP) or the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), which fall under the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).
“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,” Castro said.
“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.”
Castro added that Magalong’s advisory role does not require him to devote extensive time to ICI’s work.
“Dahil siya po ay special adviser hindi naman po niya kinakailangan na ubusin ang oras sa ICI dahil hindi po siya miyembro ng ICI,” she noted.