Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo commended Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong for having the “delicadeza” to resign from his post as the government's contact tracing czar amid criticisms, but said the latter's expertise is needed to address the COVID-19 pandemic.
The National Task Force against COVID-19 does not have someone in mind yet as the replacement of Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong in the hope he would reconsider his irrevocable resignation as contact tracing czar.
Mayor Benjamin Magalong
(JJ Landingin / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said in a statement that Magalong has tendered his resignation after drawing flak for his and his wife’s attendance at the party hosted by eventologist Tim Yap.
However, the Palace official said that the NTF rejected the resignation of the Baguio City mayor.
“We confirm that Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong tendered his resignation as the government’s Tracing Czar,” he said.
“Mayor Magalong’s resignation, however, has not been accepted. He continues to enjoy the trust and confidence of the leadership of the National Task Force (NTF) Against COVID-19,” he added.
Meanwhile, National Policy Against Covid-19 chief implementer and vaccine czar, Sec. Carlito Galvez Jr., said he cannot accept Magalong’s resignation. (File photo: National Task Force Against Covid19/Facebook)
MANILA – Top officials of the National Task Force (NTF) Against Covid-19 on Friday refused to accept the resignation of Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong as the country’s contact tracing czar, saying it would be a huge loss to the government’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Magalong was recently criticized over his attendance at a celebrity’s birthday party wherein health protocols such as wearing face masks and physical distancing were violated.
SunStar
(SunStar Baguio File) January 29, 2021 BAGUIO City Mayor Benjamin Magalong has tendered his resignation as the country’s contact tracing czar in the wake of the controversy over the quarantine violations committed during the birthday party of eventologist Tim Yap.
National Task Force Against Covid-19 (NTF) chief implementer Carlito Galvez Jr., however, rejected Magalong’s resignation.
In a statement, Galvez appealed to the public to withhold their judgment while an investigation into the incident is being conducted.
He assured that those who violated quarantine protocols during the incident will be held accountable.
Galvez also said Magalong’s role as czar is crucial as the country scales up its Covid-19 response and mitigation efforts.