‘Baguio City hall won’t be a military camp’

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — The city hall here will not be transformed into a military camp,  incoming Mayor Benjamin Magalong has assured the public amid insinuations that he would manage local government employees like they were soldiers or police personnel.

“Don’t think that just because I came from the military, I will run things the same way because I intend to do it in a different way,” Magalong, a bemedalled police general, told department heads in a briefing ahead of his assumption on July 1.

Magalong, who headed the investigation of the Mamasapano incident where 44 elite Special Action Force policemen were killed, said he does not want employees to feel uptight around him.

“(I want employees to be) working inspired, motivated, incentivized and professionally cared for,” he added.

Magalong also said he does not want  persons jumping and running as he calls on them. 

“I want them to feel that they can approach me any time.  Believe me, we will have a good relationship,” he said.