Manila: Malaca±ang on Thursday challenged Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong to substantiate his claim that the 2025 national budget was being used as an “election fund.”
According to Philippines News Agency, in a Palace press briefing, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro stated that it would be beneficial for Magalong to provide evidence so that the issues surrounding the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA) could be thoroughly examined. Castro emphasized the importance of presenting evidence to clarify the validity of Magalong’s claims.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. signed the 2025 GAA on December 30, 2024. Reports indicate that Magalong alleged House lawmakers received social amelioration funds for participating in House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez’s out-of-town engagements. Magalong also expressed concerns for his family’s safety, citing death threats he received following his exposure of alleged corruption within the House of Representatives.
Castro assured that the Palace is prepared to provide assistance if there is a genuine threat to Magalong’s life. She acknowledged Magalong’s background in the Philippine National Police (PNP) and reiterated the need for solid evidence to address the alleged threats and corruption claims.
