Domogan turns over reins to ex-Mamasapano prober in Baguio rites

Outgoing Baguio Mayor Mauricio Domogan handed the city’s symbolic key to his successor, retired Police General Benjamin Magalong, during solemn rites held on Friday afternoon (June 28) at City Hall. They were running mates in the midterm polls but Domogan lost the congressional race. INQUIRER PHOTO/ Vincent Cabreza

BAGUIO CITY –– Outgoing Mayor Mauricio Domogan formally turned over the city government’s reins to retired Police General Benjamin Magalong in solemn rites held on Friday afternoon (June 28) at City Hall.

Magalong, who led the fact-finding investigation into the botched 2015 Mamasapano police operation that led to the death of 44 troops of the police special action force, will take office on July 1.

Magalong was Domogan’s running mate in the midterm elections and informed his predecessor in his acceptance speech that he would not fail him.

The former police officer said “sacrifice” and a “strong foundation in humility” would mark his term as mayor.

Magalong said he “left his ego years ago” to seek out the truth, “and to do what is right for the right reason.”

Domogan’s term of office officially ends at noon on June 30, but said Friday was his last working day as “city janitor.”

Domogan always referred to himself as the “janitor of the city,” when he served the summer capital as mayor and as a congressman for 30 years.

Domogan was mayor from 1992 to 2001, and from 2010 to 2019, and as a congressman from 2001 to 2010. He lost to incumbent Baguio Rep. Marquez Go in the May congressional race.

He described his wife Becky as the happiest individual in the city. “I have been an absentee father,” Domogan said, because of his duties.

Highlighting “the enormous responsibility given to elected officials,” Marlo Iringan, Cordillera director of the Department of Interior and Local Government, led the turnover ceremonies, saying all new Baguio officials to be “careful how they wield their power.” (Editor: Leti Z. Boniol)