Benjamin B. Magalong is a Filipino politician and retired police general of the Philippine National Police (PNP). He is currently serving as mayor of Baguio City in the Cordillera Region of Northern Philippines.

Running for mayor under the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) in the May 13, 2019 election, he defeated eight other candidates including Edison Bilog of the PDP-Laban Party and former Party-list Representative Edgar Avila of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA). In 2022, he ran for re-election under the same party and won against former mayor Mauricio Domogan, Edison Bilog and Jeffrey Pinic.

Personal Information
Complete Name –> Benjamin Banez Magalong
Nickname –> Ben, Benjie
Birth Date –> December 15, 1960 (Age )
Birth Place –> Baguio City, Benguet, Philippines
Political Party – Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC)

Family
Father –> Severiano Magalong Sr. of San Carlos City, Pangasinan
Mother –> Fortunata Banez
Wife –> Arlene Saneo
Children –> 3

Education
Elementary – Saint Louis University Laboratory Elementary School
High School – Saint Louis University Laboratory High School
College – Philippine Military Academy
Degree – Military Science (Magna Cum Laude)
Class – Sandigan class (1982)
* Ben Magalong underwent trainings abroad such as Counter Terrorists Operation Course in Louisiana, USA, and the Senior Crisis Management Course in Washington, DC.

Military and Police Career
* Retired from Philippine National Police on December 15, 2016 after serving the institution for 38 years where he rose from batallion commander to Deputy Chief of Operations.
* In 2015 – he headed the Board of Inquiry that investigated the Mamasapano incident where 44 SAF troopers were killed. His report recommended the indictment of former President Noynoy Aquino.
* From 2013 to 2016, he was chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).
* From 2011 to 2013, he was head of the Regional Office of the PNP in Cordillera or PRO-COR

Business Career
2016-2018 – Senior Vice President for Operations, Steel Asia Corporation
2018-2019 – Member of the Board, Philippine National Oil Company

Political Career
2019-Present – Mayor of Baguio City

Projects For Baguio
Redevelopment of Burnham Park
Rehabilitation of Mines View Park
New Public Market
Cable Car to connect Baguio and La Union
Improvement of Sewerage System

Achievements and Awards
* Ranked No. 5 in job approval rating among all mayors for 2021 according to RP- Mission and Development Foundation Inc.

* General Magalong received at least 166 Military and PNP achievement and merit Medals

Advocacy
* Environmental Protection, Traffic Management, Peace and Order, Tourism Development, Youth Empowerment and Market Modernization

Controversies
2001 – Accusation of plotting to assassinate Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, then the new President of the Philippines. Case was dismissed.
2006 – Imprisonment for three months due to participation in a destabilization plot against the Arroyo Administration which led to the proclamation of a State of Emergency
2019 – Testimony at a Senate hearing against PNP Chief Oscar Albayalde in relation to the drug-related operation conducted by cops in the town of Mexico, Pampanga in 2014.

Awards
2021 – Regional Winner, People Manager of the Year Category given by Philippine Management Association of the Philippines
2017 – Outstanding Baguio Citizen
2013 – Presidential Lingkod Bayan

Brief Biography

Benjamin “Benjie” Bañez Magalong is a distinguished Filipino politician and retired police officer, best known for his career in law enforcement and his current role as the mayor of his hometown, Baguio City. Born on December 15, 1960, he is a “Baguio boy” through and through, having completed his elementary and high school education at Saint Louis University before entering the prestigious Philippine Military Academy (PMA). He graduated magna cum laude in 1982, a testament to his academic and military excellence.

Magalong’s career in the Philippine Constabulary and Philippine National Police (PNP) spanned 38 years, during which he held several key positions, including the chief of the Cordillera regional police office, the director of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), and the Deputy Chief for Operations. He is widely respected for his integrity and for his role in leading the PNP Board of Inquiry into the Mamasapano Incident, where his report implicated high-ranking officials. His reputation for transparency and accountability continued in 2019 when he testified before the Senate, accusing a high-ranking PNP chief of protecting police officers involved in the illegal drug trade.

In 2019, Magalong transitioned from a decorated police general to a public servant, winning the mayoral race in Baguio City. His leadership has been marked by a focus on good governance and a 15-point agenda aimed at revitalizing the city’s environment, addressing urban decay, and promoting sustainable tourism. He gained national recognition for his effective crisis management, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, where he was appointed as the government’s contact tracing czar. Under his leadership, Baguio City has received numerous awards for its programs related to social welfare, peace and order, and health services, cementing his legacy as a leader dedicated to the well-being and development of his constituents.

RELATED: Top Elected Govenment Officials in Baguio City

See also: List of City Mayors of the Philippines