Magalong on tighter Baguio City Hall security: Please bear with us

BAGUIO CITY – Mayor Benjamin Magalong on Monday apologized for the more stringent security measures enforced at City Hall.

Magalong said the last three weeks form him have been very “stressful,” due to his appearance in the Senate probe into the anomalous release of convicts for good behavior and drug war controversies involving ranking police officials.

He said the inconvenience to the transacting public will be temporary.

His testimony revived the unresolved cases involving “ninja cops” or policemen suspected of selling narcotics seized in drug operations.

The Baguio City government has closed most entrances of City Hall, except the main entrance, the back entrance and the staircase leading to the city business center.

Guests entering City Hall are frisked by security guards while police officers, some in street clothes, are also on alert.

“I know this has caused discomfort and inconvenience to employees and visitors. Please bear with us,” the mayor said, when he welcomed this year’s senior citizen officials of the day (Scofad) during the Monday morning flag ceremony.

Magalong said he will explain everything once the Senate concludes its investigation.

The mayor, who served as former chief of the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, earlier said he will also be asked to sit with a panel created by the Department of the Interior and Local Government to investigate the “ninja cops” controversy.

Magalong said he has been receiving death threats after his Senate testimony. /gsg