MANILA, Philippines — The government refused to accept the resignation of Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong as contact trazing czar because it would be a huge loss to the government’s response against Covid-19, National Task Force (NTF) against COVID-19 chief implementer and vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said Friday.
Magalong’s resignation came after he drew flak for attending a party in Baguio City where he admitted that health protocols were violated.
“Napakasakit sa amin noong pinasa niya sa amin ‘yung kanyang resignation. Hindi namin matatanggap kasi napakalaki ng ginawa po ni Mayor Magalong sa amin,” Galvez said in a press conference in Manila City.
(It pains us that h submitted his resignation. He has contributed a lot.)
“He’s very professional and malaking kawalan sa ‘min ‘yun (It’s a big loss to us),” he added.
Galvez said contact tracing is important especially that the government is set to start vaccinating citizens against Covid-19, and adverse effects would have to be monitored.
He defended Magalong’s attendance in the party in Baguio City and urged the public to look at the good intention of the city mayor in attending and “give him the benefit of the doubt.”
“Talagang bagsak ‘yung ekonomiya ng Baguio (Baguio;s economy is down) terms of tourism and hotel management at accommodation. Alam naman natin na ang Baguio, ang pinaka-main source of its earning is basically on tourism (Baguio’s main source of income is tourism),” Galvez said.
“So tingnan natin ‘yung ulterior motive, ‘yung magandang motive ni Sir Benjie on why he is there and we give him the benefit of the doubt sana,” he added.
For his part, testing czar Vince Dizon said Magalong was a “rare breed” of public servant whose integrity is “unquestionable.”
“Bihirang bihira ang nagseserbisyo sa publiko na humble enough to admit na nagkulang siya at nagkamali siya,” he said in the same press conference.
(It is rare to have a public servant who is humble enough to admit his mistakes and shortcomings.)
“‘Yung integridad ni Mayor Benjie is unquestionable kaya dahil doon hindi talaga namin matatanggap ang kanyang resignation. Kailangang kailangan namin siya, kailangang kailangan siya ng bansa,” Dizon added.
(His integrity is unquestionable, that is why we find it hard to accept his resignation. The country needs him.)