Manila 6th District Representative Benny Abante slammed Baguio City Mayor Benjie Magalong for refusing to apologize to lawmakers and instead doubling down on sweeping accusations linking members of Congress to irregular flood control projects.
Abante said Magalong’s defiance was an outright insult to the institution and tarnished the image of legislators committed to fulfilling their mandate as the people’s representatives.
“Mayor Magalong says he will not apologize. Then he must do the honorable thing: appear at our hearings, name names, submit documents, and testify under oath,” Abante declared.
The veteran lawmaker warned that Magalong’s reckless statements were unfair, unnecessary, and weakened public trust in democratic institutions such as the House of Representatives, which he insisted is also determined to root out corruption in flood-control projects.
Abante pointed out that Magalong does not have a monopoly on good intentions.
According to him, lawmakers want answers too—specifically, who is profiting from the suffering of ordinary Filipinos.
“Pero imbes na magtulungan tayo, sinasabi niyang moro-moro ang aming imbestigasyon; para bang lahat kaming kongresista ay kasabwat,” Abante added.
He said such reckless claims from the mayor unfairly damage the reputation of all 300 members of the House.
The House tri-committee is set to begin its probe into the alleged anomalies in flood control projects.