MANILA – Malacañang rejected the resignation of Mayor Benjamin Magalong of Baguio City as the country’s coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) contact tracing czar.
“Hindi po namin matatanggap [kasi]napakalaki ng ginawa ni Mayor Benjie Magalong sa amin,” said Carlito Galvez Jr., chief implementer of the National Task Force (NTF) against COVID-19.
Magalong’s contribution to the country’s fight against COVID-19, according to Galvez, should not be diminished with his mere attendance at the controversial party where minimum health protocols were not observed.
The contact tracing czar tendered his resignation after admitting his attendance at the birthday celebration of celebrity Tim Yap at the Manor Hotel, Camp John Hay in Baguio City on Jan. 17.
For his part, Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said Magalong’s resignation was denied because the latter continues to enjoy the trust and confidence of NTF’s leadership.
The Department of Health (DOH) also expressed its support to the Baguio City mayor.
“We believe he (Magalong) should remain in that position. He helped the country’s contact tracing efforts a lot,” DOH undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said. /PN
