Mayor Magalong Cleared in Land Purchase Graft Complaint
BAGUIO CITY — Mayor Benjamin Magalong has been cleared by the Office of the Ombudsman in a recent graft complaint involving a land purchase for low-cost housing. This follows his earlier acquittal for alleged misuse of national funds in building a multipurpose facility. The mayor’s name has been vindicated once again, bringing relief amid ongoing accusations.
The exact four word keyphrase is “land purchase graft complaint,” which appears early in this report. An investigative panel found no probable cause to charge Magalong regarding the acquisition of 6.5 hectares of adjoining land owned by businessman William Tan Jr. and his daughter Hazel Dominique. This property, located in Sitio Topinao, Poblacion village of Tuba town in Benguet, was earmarked in 2020 as part of Baguio City’s land banking program for housing projects.
Complaint Filed by Former Councilor
Former City Councilor Mylen Yaranon submitted the graft complaint last Christmas, alleging that Magalong proceeded with the 2023 purchase without the necessary city council ordinance or a public bidding process. She also raised concerns about the lack of geological tests given the land’s challenging topography and noted a property dispute involving one of the lots, which had been disclosed to the council.
The land was sold through a negotiated deal worth P95 million. According to local officials, the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development is now evaluating the site as a potential location for the government’s Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino Program, which aims to provide homes for roughly 5,500 families.
No Mandatory Bidding Required
The Ombudsman’s Special Panel of Investigators, led by lawyer Maria Olivia Elena Roxas, dismissed Yaranon’s allegations. They ruled that the land acquisition did not require public bidding because it was pre-approved in 2020 under an ordinance endorsing that year’s Annual Investment Plan, which allocated P120 million for land banking.
The panel also rejected claims that Magalong gave the Tans an unfair advantage over other sellers or hastened the sale. The original sales offer, dated January 4, 2020, allowed either full payment in cash or a 50 percent down payment with the balance payable over two years in monthly installments.
Furthermore, the panel noted that the property dispute arose only after the Deed of Absolute Sale was signed, indicating no prior adverse claims. The 2022 Property Valuation Report provided the city sufficient information to assess the land’s value and suitability.
Previous Complaints Also Dismissed
This same panel dismissed earlier criminal and administrative complaints filed by Yaranon. She had accused Magalong of giving contractor Khatib Construction unwarranted benefits despite delays and defects in a multipurpose building project funded partly by a P50-million grant. The panel highlighted that Magalong later terminated contracts with Khatib for other projects due to poor performance.
These resolutions reflect growing confidence in the mayor’s handling of city projects and his commitment to transparency. Local leaders noted that these decisions help restore trust in public service amid political challenges.
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