Mayor denies he supports left-leaning groups; expresses support to end communist conflicts

Mayor Benjamin Magalong has expressed his steadfast support to the ‘whole of nation’ approach to end local communist armed conflicts and the fight against insurgency to achieve peace and progress in the country.

In a media forum at City Hall, March 22, the Mayor expressed his disappointment over accusations made by National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) Undersecretary Lorraine Marie Badoy on his alleged “directives that give cover to the CPP-NPA-NDF front Kabataan Partylist”.

“I am willing to face Badoy et al in public and debate with them.  I am on the side of the truth and did not do anything wrong to undermine the ELCAC program,” the Mayor said.

He stressed that local government units should be strong partners of the NTF-ELCAC and must support and cooperate with each other as he claimed that “bullying and manipulating facts damage that relationship.”

“They twist the facts and shout over social media.  This tactic erodes the unprecedented gains of ELCAC,” the Mayor said.

He added, “Stories empower and enlighten.  But if it is intended to malign and taint with negative thoughts and hatred, it robs people of their dignity.  Sadly, they just did that to me.”

The Mayor pointed out that ELCAC should be about building bridges and not burning bridges.

Reginald Flores from the Kabataan Partylist, who was present during the Laban Kabataan activity, attested that the Mayor’s talk during the event centered on voters empowerment and on choosing the right leaders in the coming May elections.

“The Mayor told us on how to critically choose the leaders we should elect during the local and national elections and encouraged us to exercise our right to vote.  He did not say anything to malign ELCAC or against the government,” he said. – Gaby B. Keith