Whose nerve? Palace asks Magalong to name names

Whose nerve was struck? Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro posed this question to Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, who resigned last week from the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI).

- JANVIC MATEO

Magalong had expressed surprise that he was not supposed to serve as an investigator but merely adviser to the ICI.

“I think I struck a nerve,” Magalong said last week, adding that he “may have hit too close to home.”

“Whose nerve?” Castro asked last Friday on One News’ “Storycon,” as she urged Magalong to name names instead of making insinuations.

She maintained that President Marcos did not ask Magalong to resign, adding that her earlier announcement was merely based on what Marcos said: a review of Magalong’s dual role as mayor and ICI adviser to ensure that it would not violate the Constitution.

Castro confirmed that Magalong held a position as member of the commission, but he declined as he did not want to resign as Baguio mayor.

Magalong earlier called out Castro over a recent press briefing that supposedly cast doubt on his role in the ICI.