Magalong, Badoy joust over red-tagging

MANILA, Philippines — A “word war” has erupted between Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong and former National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF- ELCAC) spokesperson Lorraine Badoy, Eric Celis and pastor Apollo Quiboloy.

Magalong yesterday blasted Badoy, Celis and Quiboloy for “destroying” his “reputation as a public servant by branding me as a traitor, a person of no principles among other unfounded accusations, during their recent programs on SMNI.”

The Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI) is owned by the self-proclaimed “Son of God” Quiboloy where Badoy and Celis host a talk show.

Magalong was red-tagged by Badoy because of his alleged connections with activists whom she claimed belong to the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) and are “communists and terrorists.”

The mayor, however, denied the accusations and slammed Badoy for such baseless statements. “The tirade against me is unfounded and baseless and has subjected my person to needless and undeserved condemnation,” stressed Magalong, citing his public life as a police officer and graduate of the Philippine Military Academy Class 1982.

“I have fought the communist terror group in Luzon and Mindanao from the time I graduated as 2nd lieutenant in 1982. My first assignment was in Abra where I was wounded in combat against communist insurgents. From that year to 2005, I staked my life fighting the CPP/NPA, leading my men not from the rear but up front in numerous operations. All these can readily be validated by the simple act of interviewing the men and women who served with me in the Philippine Constabulary when I was assigned in Abra and Benguet, in Agusan Norte Provincial Command and in the PNP Special Action Force,” the Baguio City mayor said.

Magalong was also the chairman of the Regional Peace and Order Council as well as vice chairman of the Regional Task Force-ELCAC Cordillera from 2019 to 2022.

The former police officer said that during his tenure, he had fully supported, without any mental reservation, the programs of the NTF-ELCAC.

“Through our collective efforts, the ELCAC program continues to succeed in the Cordillera, notably with stronger support from the local communities and better perception from the public,” he said.

According to him, as mayor of Baguio he has served the city and its constituents to the best of his ability, competence and with the same unflinching loyalty to the Republic of the Philippines.

“I am safeguarding our young constituents from being subjected to unnecessary vilification by striving to ensure that our youth activists – not communists – in Baguio are safe from persecution and harassment. Youthful activism does not necessarily mean espousing a communist ideology,” he stated.

He added that to be accused that he had turned his back on his lifelong commitment against the CPP/NPA is “a grave insult that sweeps aside his lengthy and loyal service to the Philippines.”

Magalong likewise reminded the people who are defaming him that “no one is above the law.”