Malacañang on Tuesday said President Rodrigo Duterte still wants Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong to stay as the country’s tracing czar of the country.
“I have heard with my own two ears nothing but words of praises for Mayor Magalong from the president. So I am 100% sure the president would want Mayor Magalong to stay on as tracing czar,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque disclosed.
Magalong recently tendered his irrevocable resignation as tracing czar following his attendance in the controversial birthday bash of Radio-TV host Tim Yap in Baguio City where health protocols were violated by other attendees.
His resignation was previously denied as “he continues to enjoy the trust and confidence of the leadership of the National Task Force (NTF) Against COVID-19.”
NTF Against COVID-19 Chief Implementer Carlito Galvez Jr. disclosed that he and Deputy Chief Implementer Vince Dizon will talk with the mayor regarding the matter, saying that the latter is “irreplaceable”.
“Tinanggap niya ang kaniyang pagkakamali. Lahat naman tayo ay nagkakamali. Pero ang kaniyang kontribusyon sa ating COVID response ay invaluable at irreplaceable (He accepted his mistake. All of us commit mistakes. But his contribution to our COVID response is invaluable and irreplaceable),” Dizon guaranteed.
“Pipilitin namin siyang kumbinsihin na sana huwag niya kaming iiwan sa National Task Force dahil kailangang-kailangan siya ng ating mga kababayan (We will convince him not to leave us at the National Task Force because our people need him),” Dizon added. – PTV News Online
