Magalong’s sense of accountability ‘admirable, great example’ for other officials — Robredo

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Leni Robredo said Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong’s sense of accountability with the violation of health protocols during a controversial birthday party he attended was “admirable” and serves as a “great example” for other government officials.

“Obviously mayroong lapse, pero ang sa akin, bilib naman ako kay Mayor Magalong na malakas iyong sense of accountability. Kung mayroon mang nagawang lapse, iyong sa akin, iyong response—dapat ganito iyong response ng mga public officials na nalalagay sa ganitong sitwasyon,” Robredo said in her weekly radio show on Sunday.

(Obviously there were lapses, but for me, I admire Mayor Magalong’s sense of accountability. If there were lapses that were committed, his response—this should be what other officials should do if they find themselves in a similar situation.)

“Napaka-admirable sa isang public official—kasi wala namang perpekto, talagang somewhere along the way may magagawa tayong, ‘di ba, parang nagkakaroon nga ng lapses—napakahusay noong pag-ako ng accountability,” she added.

(It’s really admirable for a public official—because nobody’s perfect, somewhere along the way there would be lapses—but the way he took responsibility was commendable.)

“Tingin ko napakagandang example nito. Hindi natin sinasabing wala siyang lapse, kasi siya nga mismong nagsasabi na mayroon. Pero iyong response niya doon sa lapse na nagamit ay tingin ko ito iyong dapat,” she further said.

(I think this is a great example. We’re not saying that there were no lapses, because he said so himself that there were. But his response, it’s the way it should be.)

Magalong recently resigned as contact tracing czar after he drew flak for attending a party in Baguio City where he admitted that health protocol violations were committed.

It was in July last year when Malacañang named Magalong as the country’s contact tracing czar.

“In hindsight, being a senior officer of the (National Inter Agency Task Force for COVID-19), I should have done an immediate spot correction of the errors I witnessed (at) the time,” Magalong said in his letter to vaccine czar Sec. Carlito Galvez Jr.

“Much as I have given my best to discharge my duties for the task force, this is a reminder that a higher standard is expected of me,” his letter further read.

As seen in videos posted on social media, guests in the party thrown by social media personality and events host Tim Yap did not appear to observe physical distancing and were not wearing masks.

Yap has since assured that all guests present tested negative of the coronavirus and the gathering was meant to promote local tourism in Baguio City.

JE