In the often-turbulent landscape of Philippine politics, where public perception can be meticulously crafted and swiftly shattered, the figure of Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong has long stood as an emblem of good governance and an unwavering champion against corruption. His calm demeanor, sharp intellect, and background as a former top police official have earned him a reputation as a no-nonsense investigator, often tapped for high-profile cases. However, recent explosive allegations threaten to dismantle this carefully constructed image, exposing what some are calling three profound “untold secrets” that allegedly paint a starkly different portrait of the man once seen as an incorruptible crusader. These revelations, now reverberating across various platforms, are igniting a fierce debate about integrity, loyalty, and the pervasive nature of political maneuvering within the nation.

The first, and perhaps most financially staggering, of these alleged secrets centers on the Php36 billion “Rocknetting Project” in Benguet. Columnist Antonio Montalvan II, whose prior predictions on sensitive political matters have proven uncannily accurate, has reportedly accused Mayor Magalong of knowingly protecting Davao City Representative Paolo Duterte (Pulong Duterte) and Benguet Representative Eric Yap. Montalvan alleges that these two powerful lawmakers were the masterminds behind the overpricing and anomalies within this massive infrastructure project, and crucially, that Magalong was fully aware of their involvement.

This accusation strikes at the heart of Magalong’s “good governance” image. The rocknetting project, a critical endeavor for slope protection in the Cordillera region, reportedly commenced during the Duterte administration. Former DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan himself, in September 2025, confirmed that the rocknetting project began under the previous administration, noting that he had even issued a department order to halt its use unless technically justified. Yet, despite this historical context and the reported knowledge of powerful figures’ involvement, Magalong, who briefly served as an advisor in the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC/ICI), allegedly remained silent. Former Senator Antonio Trillanes has openly challenged Magalong to publicly disclose the names he reportedly revealed to Trillanes in private conversations back in 2022. Magalong’s consistent refusal to address these specific accusations publicly, often resorting to changing the topic or giving generic responses, is now being interpreted by critics not as discretion, but as a deliberate act of concealment, effectively branding him a “Duterte protector.” Even former President Rodrigo Duterte himself reportedly implicated his son’s ally, Eric Yap, in rigging bids as early as 2019, yet these allegations seemingly went nowhere. The ultimate irony, critics point out, is Magalong’s alleged move to bring President Marcos Jr. to the rocknetting site in Benguet, implicitly laying the blame on the current administration, despite the project’s origins under Duterte.

The second alleged secret delves into the murky waters of political destabilization. Reports circulated about a Duterte-instigated plan for a military coup d’état aimed at installing a civilian-military junta of approximately 40 members, with Vice President Sara Duterte slated as the transitional leader. Explosively, Mayor Magalong’s name allegedly surfaced as the prospective head of this junta. When confronted by the media about these grave rumors, Magalong famously chose a path of neither confirmation nor denial, merely stating that those behind the rumors were “frustrated.” This non-committal response, from a public official and former law enforcer, was highly scrutinized.

Further adding to the complexity, Magalong had reportedly alluded to a military background, citing combat experience. However, careful scrutiny reveals he was a graduate of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) but served in the Philippine National Police (PNP), specifically the Philippine Constabulary (PC), which was only under the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) during specific periods like Martial Law. This distinction is crucial; he was not a career military officer. AFP Chief General Romeo Browner also publicly denied the coup plot, though he acknowledged that groups were indeed calling for military intervention, specifically naming Duterte loyalists camping near Camp Aguinaldo. Magalong’s evasion on his alleged role as the junta head, coupled with his background, makes this his second “untold secret,” raising serious questions about his allegiances and intentions. A compelling conspiracy theory suggests that Magalong’s abrupt resignation as an ICI investigator was not a direct order from President Marcos Jr., but rather a pre-emptive move after the President initiated an investigation into the legality of Magalong’s dual roles as an ICI investigator and Baguio City Mayor. This theory posits that Magalong resigned to prevent further probing that might uncover these very secrets.

The third alleged secret casts a dark shadow over Magalong’s commitment to justice and accountability, linking him to the notorious case of former Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Director General Gerald Bantag, believed to be the mastermind in the assassination of journalist Percy Lapid. In a deeply controversial move, Magalong reportedly attended a rally in Baguio in November 2022, organized by Bantag’s relatives. At this rally, Magalong made a startling statement, asserting that it was “not the right time for us to be accusing anyone,” and that he knew Gerald Bantag’s heart was “ailing because of these accusations, especially when those charges are not true.” This statement, from a former high-ranking police official, was widely perceived as pre-judging the case and tacitly defending a fugitive from justice.

Even more disturbingly, a family member of Percy Lapid has reportedly expressed belief that Magalong knows Bantag’s hiding place in the Cordilleras, alleging that the location is heavily secured with a network of informants. If these allegations hold true, Magalong’s actions would not only compromise his “good governance” image but could also implicate him as an accessory to a crime, a grave charge for any citizen, especially a public official and former law enforcer. His apparent public support for Bantag and his continued silence on Bantag’s whereabouts constitute his third “dirty secret.”

Collectively, these three alleged secrets paint a portrait of Mayor Benjamin Magalong that is starkly different from his celebrated public persona. His critics contend that his “good governance anti-corruption champion” image is a selective façade, used to target political rivals while allegedly protecting allies of the previous administration. They argue that his calm and soothing voice, often seen as a mark of gravitas, is in fact a strategic tool to evade direct questioning and deflect accountability. Furthermore, other long-standing issues, such as a Php4 billion deposit in a time deposit and the questionable construction of a tennis court by suspended contractors, add to the growing list of unanswered questions challenging his integrity.

In conclusion, the “pretending is over” as the alleged veil of secrecy around Mayor Benjamin Magalong begins to lift. The accusations of protecting corrupt officials in a multi-billion-peso scam, his enigmatic silence regarding a military junta plot, and his controversial stance on a fugitive murder suspect are not minor intrigues. They represent a fundamental challenge to his public image and a call for transparency that demands definitive answers. Should these allegations be substantiated, they would not only shatter Magalong’s meticulously crafted reputation but also expose the deeply entrenched complexities and compromises that often lie beneath the surface of Philippine politics, leaving a nation to grapple with the true cost of trust and betrayal.