CORDILLERA Police Regional Director Benjamin Magalong was recently selected as one of the 16 individuals who will vie for the Presidential Lingkod Bayan Award of the Civil Service Commission (CSC).
Magalong is one of the finalists together with five groups selected out of the 97 qualified nominations.
Born and raised in Baguio City, Magalong graduated from the Philippine Military Academy in 1982 as Magna Cum laude and was later assigned to the operational and administrative duties in the different units of the Philippine National Police before he was assigned to the region on October 2011 as regional director.
He is the first in his class to be promoted to Police Senior Superintendent in 1998.
Magalong finished his Master’s Degree in Government Management in 1998 at the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila.
The region’s top cop completed a counter-terrorist operation course at Louisiana, USA and other courses conducted locally and specialized in intelligence, investigation, operations and training, counter-terrorism, crisis negotiations, anti-drug and anti-money laundering operations, and command management.
During his three decade of dedicated service, he received more than 100 military or PNP merit and commendation medals for his combat and law enforcement accomplishments. He also was awarded as Junior Field Officer of the Year 1993; Staff Officer of the Year 1995; Senior Field Officer of the Year for two consecutive years (1999 and 2000); Best Senior Staff of the Year 2001; Best Senior Officer for 1st and 2nd Semester 2008; and Senior PCO of the Year 2010.
He also passed the following eligibilities with flying colors: chief inspector exam in 1991 wherein he ranked fifth nationwide with 85.28 rating; police superintendent exam in 1995 being the top two nationwide with 75.4 rating; and the Civil Service executive exam in 2002.
Magalong is married to Arlene, a businesswoman and blessed with three children; Kristina Louise, Katrina Andrea, and Kevin Benjamin.
The other 15 individuals are: Mayor Vicente Amante of San Pablo, Laguna; Police Senior Superintendent (PSS) Alfred Corpus of Tarlac Police Provincial Office; Camp Crame PNP Director Rogelio Damazo; Mayor Hubbert Christopher Dolor of Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro; Division Chief I Reynato Dubongco of the Philippine Coconut Authority in Catarman, Northern Samar; PSS Manuel Gaerlan of Camp Crame PNP; Executive Director III Julius Lecciones of the Philippine Children’s Medical Center in Diliman, Quezon City; Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog of Iloilo City; Department Manager Dennis Mas of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation Regional Office VI, Iloilo City; Mayor Datu Armando Al-Hadj Mastura of Sultan Mastura, Maguindanao; PSS Louie Oppus of Camp Crame PNP; Gov. Jose Ma. Clemente Salceda of Albay; Mayor Daisy Sayangda of Santol, La Union; Roel Suralta, the Senior Science Research Specialist of the Philippine Rice Research Institute, Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija; and teacher Anabel Ungcad of Sta. Cruz North District Division of Davao del Sur.
The five groups as semi–finalists are: Bayawan Integrated Waste Management Team (eight members), Bayawan, Negros Oriental; City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (10 members), Olongapo City; “D” Working Team for De la Paz Elementary School (three members), Antipolo City, Rizal; Department of Labor and Employment Single Entry Approach Team (nine members), Intramuros, Manila; and Inclusive Finance Advocacy Staff (four Mmmbers) of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Malate, Manila.
Among the former Lingkod Bayan awardees are former Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Director-General Arturo Cacdac Jr., Batangas Governor Vilma Santos-Recto, and Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology Director Renato Solidum Jr.
The CSC is currently conducting background investigation and screening among the finalists in order to determine who will deserve the award. The awarding ceremony will be held on September in Malacañang.