Jonathan Frederic De Santos

Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong checks on the Sunog Apog pumping station in Manila on September 24, 2025. Andrea Taguines, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Darylle Sarmiento

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1759017872898552921698_1289117803263473_3376305043511684941_n.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong checks on the Sunog Apog pumping station in Manila on September 24, 2025. <em>Andrea Taguines, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Mayor Benjamin Magalong has apologized to the residents of Baguio City for being away as part of his work with the Independent Commission for Infrastructure, saying the schedule of the inspections had been demanding.</p><p>Magalong made the remarks in his speech during the LGU’s Annual Awards and Recognition Program on Friday, September 26. He resigned as special adviser to the ICI hours later.</p><p>“It’s been a long time since I saw each and everyone of you, pagpasensyahan niyo na ho (please forgive me),” Magalong said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/27/magalong-on-ici-resignation-i-chose-to-protect-the-integrity-of-fight-vs-corruption-1109"><strong>Magalong on ICI resignation: I chose to protect the integrity of fight vs corruption<br/></strong></a></div><p>“I’ve never been so busy in my entire life, ngayon lang, and I would like to apologize to each and everyone of you if I cannot perform my task as your mayor of the City of Baguio.” </p><p>He admitted that confronting the country’s influential figures had been a significant challenge. “It’s very challenging and it is very dangerous as well. Fighting all these very powerful and moneyed people in our country today.”</p><p>He said he had anticipated encountering corruption, but said the extent of it that he has seen is “unbelievable,” with corruption in infrastructure being “systemic, highly organized, and highly syndicated.”</p><p>Magalong, as part of the ICI, has been going around the country to inspect flood control project sites and said he found that corruption is “so deeply entrenched.” </p><p>He said that of the projects the ICI has inspected, none were found to be compliant.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2025/9/26/coa-submits-fraud-audit-reports-on-bulacan-flood-projects-to-ici-1426"><strong>COA submits fraud audit reports on Bulacan flood projects to ICI<br/></strong></a></div><p>“Corruption in infrastructure projects or infrastructure sector has already become a cottage industry, a livelihood program,” he said.</p><p>The Palace announced Friday that <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/26/magalong-s-ici-appointment-under-review-malaca-ang-1528">Magalong&#x27;s appointment as special advisor to the ICI was under review</a> over questions on whether he could be in the role while serving as Baguio City mayor. </p><p>It has also emerged that a P110-million tennis court and parking building project in Baguio City had been awarded to a firm linked to Pacifico and Sarah Discaya, a contractor couple whose firms have had their licenses revoked over alleged collusion.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/21/-baguhin-ang-sistema-leaders-call-systemic-changes-vs-corruption-1525"><strong>&#x27;Baguhin ang sistema&#x27;: Leaders call for systemic changes vs corruption</strong></a></div><p>“Napakahirap labanan ang korapsyon. Dahil, lagi nalang may mga taong wala nang ginawa kundi mamulitika, at sirain pa yung ating reputasyon,” Magalong said.</p><p>(It is so hard to fight corruption because there are always people who do nothing else but play politics and destroy your reputation)</p><p> “Ganyan na ka g*go ang sistema natin dito.”</p><p>(That is how fouled up the system is)</p><script data-wid="auto" type="text/javascript" src="https://content.viralize.tv/display/?zid=AAFz8gWM8iRADsJr&amp;cid=ABjZJzGORRqiSdPq"></script>

<p>Mayor Benjamin Magalong has apologized to the residents of Baguio City for being away as part of his work with the Independent Commission for Infrastructure, saying the schedule of the inspections had been demanding.</p>

Mayor Benjamin Magalong has apologized to the residents of Baguio City for being away as part of his work with the Independent Commission for Infrastructure, saying the schedule of the inspections had been demanding.

Magalong apologizes to Baguio residents for being busy with flood control probe

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Magalong apologizes to Baguio residents for being busy with flood control probe

Darylle Sarmiento,

ABS-CBN News

Published Sep 28, 2025 08:08 AM PHT

|

Updated Sep 28, 2025 07:47 PM PHT

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Benjamin Magalong

Independent Commission for Infrastructure

Baguio City

Flood control projects

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