DIVINE PROTECTION. Mayor Benjamin Magalong and wife Arlene are prayed-over by various religious leaders, calling on the Divine Being to keep him and his family safe, during the ecumenical prayer for truth following his first appearance before the Senate. Magalong named the police officers considered as "ninja cops" involved in the resell of seized illegal drugs. (PNA file photo)
BAGUIO CITY-- The city council here has approved a resolution supporting Mayor Benjamin Magalong for being an advocate of truth.
Resolution 336-2019, dated Oct. 9, introduced by the 14 members of the council “express the strong support of the officialdom of the city government of Baguio and its citizenry to the Honorable city mayor Benjamin Bañez Magalong for being a staunch advocate of truth and remaining steadfast on what is right and good especially during the ongoing Senate inquiry on the ‘agaw bato’ operation issue."
The resolution said Magalong appeared before the Senate hearing where he talked about several members of the Philippine National Police identified as the “ninja cops” or those involved in the corrupt practices of reselling of confiscated illegal drugs.
It said: “despite the death threats he received after his revelation, Mayor Benjie insisted that testifying before the Senate was worth it, that it is a fight between good and evil and what is right and wrong.”
Magalong's constituents in Baguio, as well as several churches, religious groups and denominations have organized and joined the prayer rally for truth, expressing support to the mayor’s truth advocacy.
Magalong’s testimony resulted in the jailing of several police officers after the Senate Blue Ribbon committee cited them for contempt for refusing to talk and divulge information about the issue.
On Monday, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, Gen. Oscar Albayalde opted to step down from his post and go on a “non-duty status”.
In the statement, Magalong said “He [Albayalde] has no choice. PNP officers and rank and file inside Crame are avoiding and evading him. How can you lead when your subordinates do not trust you? In essence, he lost the moral high ground to lead. With this latest development, the PNP can now pursue more effectively its transformation program under new leadership that is credible and possesses that moral ascendancy to lead."(PNA)
