Galvez urges ‘irreplaceable’ Magalong to ‘stay put’ as tracing czar

MANILA, Philippines — National Task Force (NTF) against Covid-19 chief implementer Carlito Galvez Jr. urged Baguio City mayor Benjamin Magalong to “stay put” as the country’s tracing czar, saying his expertise in the matter is unmatched.

“Nakita po natin napaka-professional po ng ating mahal na mayor at bihira po sa mga ganyang klaseng tao na very gentleman at nakikita natin na talaga he’s not afraid of accepting his mistake,” Galvez said Tuesday in a televised briefing.

(He is really professional and a person like him is rare, someone who is a gentleman and we see that he’s not afraid of accepting his mistake.)

“Pero nakikita po natin, sa totoo lang po, wala po siyang katulad. Nakikita po namin mahihirapan po kung sino ang idedesignate namin. Yung kanyang pagka-contact tracing czar, it’s a separate thing from what happened to Manor hotel,” he added.

(But we can see honestly that he is unmatched. Whoever will be designated to replace him will have a hard time. His post as a contact tracing czar, it’s a separate thing from what happened at the Manor hotel.)

Magalong “irrevocably” resigned after he admitted there were lapses in the health protocols at a party in Baguio City which he attended with his wife.

“Nakikita ko po yan, mayor, naranasan ko rin po yung naranasan niyo. Stay put lang po Sir, Mayor, tayo po, sama sama po tayo. Hindi po namin kayo iiwanan, mayor,” Galvez said.

(I have experienced what you have experienced, mayor. Just stay put, mayor. We are all in this together. We will not leave you, mayor.)

Galvez said he intends to go to Baguio City next week to personally talk to Magalong.

“Talagang sa amin, sa National Task Force, irreplaceable po ang kakayahan ni Gen. Magalong. Hindi po namin matanggap na magbitiw sya as contact tracing czar because he has done so much from the start when we were looking for answers,” he said.

(For the National Task Force, Gen. Magalong’s skills are irreplaceable. We cannot accept that he is resigning as contact tracing czar because he has done so much from the start when we were looking for answers.)

Magalong wished the matter of his resignation would no longer reach President Rodrigo Duterte, but admitted he cannot refuse should the Chief Executive ask him to stay in his post.

JE