Jonathan Frederic De Santos

Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) special adviser and Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, together with Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon, conduct an on-site inspection of major infrastructure projects in Pampanga on Tuesday, September 23, 2025. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Job Manahan

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1759637786174175913082704820250923-flood-cointrol-pampanga-ici-MT16.jpg.webp" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) special adviser and Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, together with Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon, conduct an on-site inspection of major infrastructure projects in Pampanga on Tuesday, September 23, 2025. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News "/>Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) special adviser and Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, together with Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon, conduct an on-site inspection of major infrastructure projects in Pampanga on Tuesday, September 23, 2025. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News </div>MANILA —  President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had not wanted  Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong to resign as special adviser to the Independent Commission for Infrastructure,  Malacañang said on Sunday. Magalong&#x27;s resignation had been preceded by Palace Press Officer Claire Castro saying on September 26  that Marcos Jr.’s legal team was reviewing his appointment over questions of conflict of interest over his being Baguio mayor,Castro said then that lawyers were also looking into whether it would be simpler to just revoke Magalong&#x27;s appointment to the ICI, something that drew the mayor’s ire. In his resignation letter to Marcos, he said the Palace’s pronouncements “undermined the role and mandate entrusted to me.” He also said he would continue the campaign against corruption despite leaving ICI.But in an interview on DZMM Teleradyo, Castro said the Palace only sought to know the possible conflict of interest regarding Magalong’s role as a concurrent investigator and Baguio City mayor.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/10/2/magalong-slams-conflict-of-interest-claim-regarding-discaya-constructed-tennis-court-2029">Magalong slams &#x27;conflict of interest claim&#x27; regarding Discaya-constructed tennis court </a></div>She said Marcos just wanted to make sure there was no violation of the Constitution and the Local Government Code in the appointment.“&#x27;Yun lang naman yung gustong patignan,” she added. (That was all that he wanted lawyers to check)Castro said double checking his role was “not meant to throw Magalong under the bus.”This, Castro said, had nothing to do with the allegations on a tennis court project in Baguio City that had been awarded to a firm linked to high-profile contractors Curlee and Sarah Discaya.“Sa kasamaang palad siya ay bumitaw kaagad kahit hindi naman yan ang nais ng Pangulo,” she added. (Unfortunately, he resigned immediately even if that was not what the President wanted)Aside from this, Castro clarified that she did not answer any queries regarding the tennis court during the Palace briefing, stressing she only talked about clarifying Magalong&#x27;s &quot;double role&quot; in government.Magalong earlier labelled the accusations thrown against him as “below the belt” after he was tagged to the P118-million tennis court constructed by a firm owned by the Discayas.“Hindi tayo ang nag-bring up niyan (We were not the ones who brought that up),” she said. Magalong maintained that the tennis court project went through a transparent bidding in 2022.He also said a third-party audit is being conducted regarding the Discaya projects in Baguio, including the tennis court. The Baguio City mayor cited that the court has minor defects like the placing of the pavement that removes the paint.The Baguio City LGU, he noted, has withheld the remaining P26-million payment to St. Gerrard Construction.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had nor wanted Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong to resign as special adviser to the Independent Commission for Infrastructure, Malacañang said on Sunday.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had nor wanted Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong to resign as special adviser to the Independent Commission for Infrastructure, Malacañang said on Sunday.

Magalong's resignation from ICI 'not what Marcos Jr. wanted' — Palace

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Magalong's resignation from ICI 'not what Marcos Jr. wanted' — Palace

Job Manahan,

ABS-CBN News

Published October 05, 2025 12:21 PM PHT

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Updated October 05, 2025 01:35 PM PHT

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Benjamin Magalong

Claire Castro

Indeopendent Commission for Infrastructure

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