The country’s COVID-19 testing czar Sec. Vince Dizon remains a part of the Duterte administration and is focused on the fight against the pandemic, the Palace said Thursday (Nov. 18).
In a press statement, acting Presidential Spokesperson and Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles denied reports that Dizon has joined the campaign team of presidential aspirant and Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso.
“There is no truth to the reports circulating that Secretary Vivencio ‘Vince’ Dizon allegedly joined the campaign team of a presidential aspirant,” Nograles said.
The statement was released after reports circulated that Dizon will supposedly serve as Domagoso’s deputy campaign manager and head of the statistical research team. This was confirmed by Lito Banayo, Domagoso’s campaign strategist.
The reports came after Dizon resigned from his position as president and chief executive officer at the Bases and Conversion Development Authority (BCDA) on Oct. 15.
Nograles said, “Sec. Dizon remains a working member of the Cabinet of the Duterte Administration as Presidential Adviser for COVID-19 response,” adding that Dizon has no time to engage in any political activities related to the 2022 elections.
“Sec. Dizon is focused on the vaccination efforts of government, and not with any political campaign,” he said.
Dizon also concurrently serves as the chief deputy implementer of the National Task Force Against COVID-19. (with a report from PNA) – jlo
