Ombudsman dismisses cases vs Magalong

BAGUIO CITY — The Office of the Ombudsman, in a Joint Resolution, dismissed the criminal and administrative charges against Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong.

The resolution, dated 18 February but was only received by the Office of the City Mayor this month, resolved the complaint-affidavit filed on 24 April 2024 by then Baguio City Councilor Mylen Yaranon.

The former councilor accused Magalong of malversation of public funds; violating the anti-graft and corrupt practices act, the government auditing code of the Philippines, government procurement reform act, provisions of the government procurement policy board resolution on terminating contracts and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) guidelines on infrastructure contracts.

Yaranon also accused the mayor of committing grave misconduct, gross negligence and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service. 

The councilor claimed the case was prompted from the alleged regularities on the implementation of the construction and improvement as well as rehabilitation of a Multi-Purpose Building in Irisan Barangay Complex worth P50 million.

Said building was implemented through a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) between the City Government of Baguio and the DPWH Cordillera. She alleged that despite some discrepancies in the manner of the implementation of the construction wherein it did not follow what was specified in the MoA and that the supposed completion of the project was not followed, the city government, through Magalong paid the contractor.

Magalong on 21 June 2024 filed his consolidated Counter-Affidavit where he denied the accusations of Yaranon against him. The latter filed her reply to the affidavit of Magalong on 8 July 2024.