MANILA, Philippines — Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong on Wednesday refuted Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Oscar Albayalde’s claim that he asked the police chief for a “little favor” sometime between 2006 and 2010.
“I cannot recall any incident na manghingi ng tulong sa kanya (where I asked him for a favor),” Magalong, a former PNP-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group head, told ANC in an interview.
“I cannot recall, pasensya na, ‘di ko maisip eh. Bakit ako tatawag sa kanya? (I’m sorry, I cannot remember it. Why would I call him?)” he added.
However, he confirmed that he was indeed placed on floating status during that time because he just got out of jail for allegedly plotting rebellion.
Magalong was charged in 2006 for rebellion for allegedly plotting a coup attempt against former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Magalong was later exonerated of the charge.
Magalong’s reply comes after the PNP chief earlier claimed that he initially granted Magalong’s request as he was the former CIDG head’s “underclass.”
READ: Albayalde turns tables on Magalong, bares ‘little favor’ request
The current Baguio City mayor also shared that during that time, he was already preparing to join the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.
“And when I got back in the mainstream, in the Philippine National Police, that was in 2010 and that was already a new administration. And it was [Gen. Raul Bacalzo, former PNP chief] who gave the order for me to go back to the Philippine National Police. And that was the time I joined the Quezon City Police District,” Magalong said.
“I cannot recall asking any favor na tulungan mo ako para makabalik, eh alam ko naman nun during that time the administration is against me. So bakit naman ako hihingi ng tulong?” he then argued.
(I cannot recall asking any favor to help me get back to service since during that time, the administration was against me. Why would I ask help from him?)
“But nevertheless, for the sake of argument, we should be focusing on the issue and not on the other issue,” Magalong stated. /je
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