In a recent interview, Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong said something about "𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗶𝗿𝗰𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱" with regards to the proposed redevelopment of the public market through a public-private partnership with SM.
Here were his words: "𝘞𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘵𝘩, 𝘣𝘢𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘯 𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘴. 𝘐𝘵'𝘴 𝘶𝘱 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘪𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘪𝘳𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥."
Magalong is obviously referring to the concerned individuals, groups, and organizations who have consistently criticized the proposed project and highlighted its negative ramifications to the city if it pushes through.
Magalong basically referred to them as circulators of lies. In short, he called them liars.
This is one of the reasons why a lot of people are frustrated and annoyed with Magalong's treatment of the issue. He seems to have already made up his mind that the PPP with SM is the way to go. It's the SM way or the highway. This is crystal clear when you listen to his answers whenever he's asked about the issue.
The thousands of people who protested in the streets and signed petitions are just noise in the eyes of Magalong. To him, they are liars. To him, they are peddlers of lies and false claims.
Was Magalong ever genuinely interested in listening to the sentiments and arguments of those against the partnership with SM? He wasn't present in the recent public consultations about the issue. People were always looking for him in these consultations. They expected him to be there so he can participate in answering their questions and concerns. After all, he's the father of the city. He didn't attend the recent public consultations.
If he was present in these consultations, he would've had the chance to tell the critics in their face that they are liars. He would've had the chance to show the facts and evidence that will expose their lies. But he didn't show up. Instead, he calls them liars when they're not around to defend themselves against his accusations.
