Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro denied allegations that the Palace made inconsistent statements on the role of Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong in the Independent Commission on Infrastructure (ICI).

In a press briefing on Monday, Sept. 29, Castro clarified that her Sept. 13 remark, which referred to Magalong as “investigator,” was a reference to what he could pursue on his own.

“Maliwanag naman po ang ating pagkakasabi. At nung tayo ay tinanong kung paano siya magiging imbestigador, sinabi po natin… na pwede siya mag-imbestiga through his own effort (It was clear what we said. When asked how he could investigate, I explained that he could do so through his own effort),” she said.

She pointed out that President Marcos himself later resolved the matter, saying on Sept. 15 that Magalong’s role would be limited to special adviser after the mayor chose not to resign from his post.

“Wala pong dinagdag ang Pangulo na pagiging imbestigador niya dahil nga po hindi po siya, or rather, he refused to resign as Mayor of Baguio (The President did not add any investigative role because he refused to resign as Baguio mayor),” Castro said.

“So with that, nakita po ng Pangulo ang maaaring maging conflict at kaya po Special Adviser po ang kanyang ibinigay na magiging role ni Mayor Magalong (Seeing the potential conflict, the President gave him the role of Special Adviser instead),” she added.

The Palace Press Officer confirmed that President Marcos had already received Magalong’s resignation as special adviser to the ICI and respects his decision.

“Kinikilala naman po ng ating Pangulo ang kagalingan ni Mayor Magalong (The President recognizes Mayor Magalong’s competence),” she said.

“Pero ang kanya pong pagbibitaw bilang special adviser… ay hindi makakaapekto sa magiging trabaho ng ICI dahil kumpleto naman po ang ICI (But his resignation as special adviser will not affect the work of the ICI since the body remains complete),” she added.

Castro stressed that the commission’s integrity remains intact, with its members and executive director fully in place to carry out its mandate.

She added that Magalong’s inputs would still be welcome even without a formal role.

“At kung siya po pa rin ay makakatulong para po maibigay ang kanyang mga impormasyon, ‘yan naman po ay welcome pa rin sa ICI (If he can still contribute information, that will still be welcome in the ICI),” she said.

Meanwhile, Castro said President Marcos has not yet appointed a replacement for Magalong, who resigned after Malacañang’s announcement that President Marcos had ordered his legal team to review his appointment, amid questions over possible conflicts of interest.

Magalong tendered his resignation effective immediately through a letter to President Marcos dated Sept. 26. He said Palace pronouncements on his role undermined the mandate given to him, making his continued service “no longer tenable.”

Labor groups earlier raised concerns that Magalong’s dual role as mayor and ICI adviser could compromise the commission’s impartiality, while pointing to an allegedly anomalous project in Baguio City involving the Discaya family.