BAGUIO CITY – Mayor Benjamin Magalong expressed relief after the Office of the Ombudsman dismissed the cases filed against him by former Councilor Mylene Yaranon.
MAGALONG
“Our pure and honest desire for the development of our city is only proven, our management under Good Governance will continue to be implemented, transparency and integrity,” Magalong said.
Yaranon filed criminal and administrative complaints in April 2024 against Magalong over the P50-million government-funded infrastructure project in the Irisan Barangay Complex.
She said Magalong committed criminal and administrative violations in the implementation of the project after it suffered from poor implementation, unauthorized variation orders, and construction deviations that violated the city’s memorandum of agreement with the Department of Public Works and Highways.
She criticized the awarding of the project to Khatib Construction that allegedly had issues with other projects here such as Wright Park and Lualhati Project.
The Ombudsman, in a 33-page joint resolution signed by Maria Olivia Elena A. Roxas, chairperson of the Special Panel of Investigators, and concurred in by officer-in-charge Dante F. Vargas, dated Feb. 18, 2025 and released on July 9, 2025, said Yaranon failed to establish that Magalong was criminally liable or administratively wrongdoing in the project.
"Even assuming that there were defects in the implementation of the subject projects, this Office has found no evidence that respondent Magalong was motivated by any ill intent or wrongful purpose in the performance of his official duties," the Ombudsman said.