Dir. Benjamin Magalong
by Liza Agoot
The regional director of the Philippine National Police believes positive changes will happen in the political scene in Abra, as the midterm election draws near.
“The people of Abra are learning. They are intelligent people and we are positive that major changes will happen this election,” PRO-Cor Director Benjamin Magalong said in a recent press conference.
Magalong said the police can only do the groundwork but the people themselves are the ones who can solve the volatile peace and order situation in the province.
He encouraged the electorate not to vote for politicians who employ private armed groups (PAGs). Magalong said it is time for the residents to stop putting them in office so that the dream of all Abrenios to have a peaceful town can be attained.
“I personally believe that a minimal number of politicians will use their PAGs during the campaign because the people will be very vigilant and will prevent these politicians from doing what they normally do. Nagising na ang mga taga-Abra. Naniniwala ako na alam at ramdam na nila ang mga negative implication ng magulong lugar.”
Since January, the provincial police has recovered 64 firearms. Magalong said it was the residents who turned over or reported the presence of loose firearms, which the police used so they could secure search warrants. Compared to 2011 data, only 20 firearms were seized during the same period.
Magalong also reported settlement of cases is no longer an issue. “Wala nang ayusan ng kaso ngayon. Tumutulong na din ang mga mamamayan ng Abra para ma-solve ang mga kaso.”
Magalong said of the 16 shooting incidents that have occurred in the past months, 80 percent have been solved and are now in court.
He also reported that the number of killing incidents in the province has decreased as he hopes to “keep the peace” until and beyond the elections.
He also hinted about a pilot project in Abra, which is currently under assessment. “This is the first in the country and we hope it becomes successful in Abra, then we will do it in all provinces in the Cordillera and recommend it to the national office for adoption.”
Magalong added, the police continues to engage stakeholders for they see it as one of the solutions in achieving a hostility-free Abra.
http://www.baguiomidlandcourier.com.ph/abra.asp?mode=archives%2F2012%2Fjune%2F6-10-2012%2Fabra1.txt
abrenian.com 
Maganda and I deeply appreciate the high hopes of Gen Magalong. His concern for Peace in Abra is shown really in his hard works. I am for the good intention of the general. I always tell my friends to support the peace program of the PNP.
Posted by Romeo Astudillo | June 17, 2012, 3:18 amlong live the general if he will succeed his campaign against criminality to this province he has a good chance to be promoted to the top post of the PNP.
Posted by coup plotter | June 17, 2012, 4:22 amI am glad to hear that despite the crisis that our province had been experiencing, here comes a good news that soon we will be having a peaceful Abra through the efforts of the PNP headed by Gen. Magalong. Sana po ay magiging successful ang programa ninyo sir. Tama naman po na these hopes for peace for Abra will only be achieve if we abrenians join hands with the authority in helping them achieve these goals for us. kailangan lang tayong makipagtulungan para sa ikabubuti ng kahat.More power Gen, Magalong.
Posted by maladaga | June 17, 2012, 8:44 amlet’s give him the benefit of the doubt. He has 11 months to lay out the ground works for a peaceful (FINALLY?) elections.
Posted by Kaaruba | June 17, 2012, 4:01 pmDo it Gen. Magalong huwag ka lang pa control sa mga Parel At Banez dito sa abra becaause we know that youare their relative!
Posted by carlos | June 18, 2012, 9:20 amcarlos, wala ang mga parel at banez na yan magmula noon mamatay sina nelson at choy, isuda met ti agdurdurog idi tiempo ni vicshit. see what happen to vicshit.
Posted by engot | July 12, 2012, 11:05 pmEngot bagay nga sau ang pangalan mo! In english DUMB! You dont know what you’re talking about and you speak in general terms.
Posted by Neil | July 16, 2012, 10:42 pmCarlos, si Hen. Magalong ay isang profesyonal, matuwid at dedicated na tao sa kanyang trabaho. may sariling syang pag-iisip at may integridad na hindi kayang ibaluktot o mantsahan ng kahit sinuman, mapa kamag anak, kaibigan o kaaway. meron katapangan na ginagamit laban sa kasamaan ng sambayanan. Kung sa palagay mo ay kaya syang maimpluwensyahan ng mga kadugo nya dito sa Abra, ikaw ay nagkakamali. Ang mga Parel at lalong lalo na mga Banez ay walang sapat na kadahilanan para makaimpluwensya kay Hen Magalong. Sila man ay ipalagay natin kasindugo ng Heneral, ngunit ito ay malayo at batay lamang sa personal na pinagsamahan. Ito ay kailanman di maaring abusuhin at gamitin para maitulak ang mga pang sariling kapakanan. Ang mga Banez ay tahimik na pamilya, mapagkumbaba, matulungin at mga profesyonal. Sila ay handang tumulong para sa ikakabuti ng nakakarami sa anuman pagkakataon. Kung meron man mga naiiba ng landas sa pamilyang Parel o Banez, ito ay sa mga bagay na madalas ay mahirap natin unawain at intindihin. Ngunit ito din sa pangkaraniwan na alituntunin na sa lahat ng bagay dito sa mundo ay meron naiiba o bulok, kagaya din siguro sa iyong sariling pamilya at kamag-anak, meron din iba o nahihiwalay sa landas na tuwid. Huwag ka sanang maging mapang husga sa lahat ng bagay, dahil sigurado ko hindi mo kilala ang amin pamilya at higit na wala ka ni katiting na naiintindihan, ang iyong kaisipan at pananalita ay batay lamang sa mga agam agam sa kanto. Huwag kang magsalita ng pangkalahatan tungkol sa isang bagay lalo na kung wala kang sapat na nalalaman at katunayan.. huwag kang mapanira sa ngalan ng iba. Si Heneral Magalong ay di kailanman kayang impluwensyahan ng sinuman at ang mga Banez ay di kailanman gagawa ng bagay na ikakasira ng amin pinagkaka ingatan pangalan. Gayundin siguro sa mas nakakaraming myembro nga pamilya Parel. Mabuhay tayong lahat at Mabuhay para sa katahimikan ng Abra!
Posted by Neil | June 23, 2012, 2:22 amnakakalungkot isipin na karamihan sa mga kaprobinsya natin ay pawang magagaling sa pag-uudyok, pananalita at pangangantyaw sa kapwa at sa mga pangyayari. sila yun klase ng tao na mas gugustuhin maupo sa gilid at ibabaw ng bakod para manood at mag-ingay. Ngunit sa mga pagkakataon na kinakailangan ng probinsya o sinuman ang tulong nila, nagiging bahag ang kanilang buntot at patay malisya na walang nakita or narinig para lamang maiwas sila sa kaguluhan na kanilang nasisilayan araw araw gabi gabing nangyayari sa probnsya. sila un mga tao na di na nga nakakatulong para sa ikakabuti ng probinsya sila pa un maiingay at akala mo ay mga walang bahid ng kasalanan dala natin lahat na taga abra dahil sa kakulangan ng partisipasyon aktibo para sa pagbabagong totoo at lubusan. karamihan ay nag-iisip kung paano makalamang sa kapwa, kung paano matanggap at magkapera sa madaling paraan, kung paano mapaigting at mapalakas ang kapangyarihan hiram at kung paano manakot at itago ang mga perang di pinag hirapan malikom sa maling paraan. kung si pedro sanay sa baluktot na pamumuhay at ikaw naman na ambrosio at akong si juan at di sumasang ayon sa gawain nya sa palagay mo magagawa nya ang gusto nya 1 laban sa 2??? if only more abrenians will truly involve themselves to work for a better abra and fear not the sound of guns, and the shadows of the goons and shun the glitter of gold how could a few people empower and enrich themselves sa daan baluktot? madaling sabihin, oo pero mahirap gawin…but all is not lost and late. i have faith in us abrenians because there is that goodness in our hearts as human beings, goodness that can muster strength and courage to fight and work for a change. Even our leaders and polticians, they too have this thing, goodness in their hearts. One day we all hope they too will realize, that the time has come for a change for peace and a better abra sa pamamaraan ng tuwid na pamahalaan at liderato.
Posted by Neil | June 23, 2012, 5:26 amParepareho LNG politico ditto mgnanakaw na nag di pa maayos ang peace and order lalo na yan takit walang bayag Alipores Nya ngpapayaman na rin
Posted by Turned-back | July 27, 2012, 11:27 amNeil for President!!!
Posted by jerry garcia | June 23, 2012, 5:48 pmAnia dayta pasablog nga insulto, Gerry? Daytoy ket ti kunak ta saanyu ammo nga appresiaren diay nasayaat a mensahe. Kabain yu ket diay nasayaat, ngem nu kinasalawasaw ti mabasa kasta unay ta arakiyak yu.
Posted by kumaw | June 26, 2012, 6:30 amtama ka neil, sana mas maraming katulad mo ang meron ganong pag iicip. Minsan d natin masisisi ang karamihan sa kababayan natin na matakot magsalita sa mga nakikita nilang pangyayari dahil kulang tayo sa seguridad lalo na kung meron tayong mga pamilyang sinusuportahan. Minsan ang gobyerno natin ay di patas ang treatment sa may pera at walang pera. Pero Sana with the leadership of Gen. Magalong, magiging matapang at cooperative na ang mga tao dahil alam nilang may nagmamalasakit sa kanila. Alam nilang may nag aalaga sa kanila kung sila man ay magsasalita sa mga nakita nila. Sana nga magkaroon na nang mapayapang Abra sa di kalaunan.
Posted by maladaga | June 30, 2012, 2:56 amsinno ngata ti aglaban ti mayor ti pidigan?
Posted by onyok | July 6, 2012, 4:29 pmano ngaun kung kamag anak nya mga banez dito. importante he does the right thing para sa pngkalahatan hirap kc mga politician dito pg d nila kaya isang oficial intrigahin nila parang mga bata ngsusumbong sa taas
Posted by paloy plotter | July 14, 2012, 9:40 pmagbibisin ka Neil , agkoyhog kayon kenni uncle mo nga padam a maoyong nga addict nga Mao tarkok to met la a padam , ammom Neil ipakitam ti kinabaklam di ada tayo ti high school.
Posted by carlos | July 21, 2012, 3:57 amYou know what’s wrong with some people? If someone is on the top, they will try their very best to pull that someone so that they are not alone in their place. It all sums up to success. It’s got enemies. You can be successful and have enemies or you can be unsuccessful and have friends. Either way, why don’t you reside your negativity energy in changing yourself to be a better person, instead of wasting some time to comment here and stain other’s reputation?
To General Magalong: Blessed are the ones who serve others. They are the ones who find heaven on earth.
To Neil: They can’t do it, so they hate you for being able to do it. Remember, Something built on great foundation cannot be easily toppled over.
Posted by Iyan C. | August 7, 2012, 11:01 pmcarlos and peterb for salesmen !!! lovely.
Posted by tin | August 2, 2012, 3:30 amyou can t comprehend abrenian’s behavior especially those who are fed up in fear and politics. so im urging you to support our cause “revolution” for all the politicians to be put in gas chamber
Posted by paloy plotter | August 9, 2012, 1:08 amI have no problem because you are on the right track- a salesman, peterb ! parrot hehhehe..
Posted by tin | August 13, 2012, 3:18 am