Palace says Dizon still a ‘working member’ of Duterte’s Cabinet

FILE PHOTO: Vince Dizon. Photo from Dizon’s office

MANILA, Philippines — Testing czar and deputy chief implementer of the National Task Force against COVID-19 Vince Dizon remains to be a “working member” of President Rodrigo Duterte’s Cabinet, Malacañang said Thursday.

The Palace’s statement comes amid reports that Dizon is now part of the campaign team of Manila City Mayor  Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso, who is shooting for the presidency via the May 2022 elections.

“There is no truth to the reports circulating that Secretary Vivencio ‘Vince’ Dizon allegedly joined the campaign team of a presidential aspirant,” Cabinet Secretary and acting presidential spokesperson Karlos Nograles said in a statement.

“Sec. Dizon remains a working member of the Cabinet of the Duterte Administration as Presidential Adviser for COVID-19 response,” he added.

“Sec. Dizon is focused on the vaccination efforts of the government, and not [on] any political campaign,” Nograles continued.

In a text message to INQUIRER.net, Moreno’s campaign manager Lito Banayo said Dizon would be helping their team “soon” as he has just returned from a vacation.

“Vince is a dear friend and I asked him to help our campaign team. He just came back from a vacation and should be helping us out soon,” Banayo said.

Like Banayo, Dizon was also involved in Duterte’s successful presidential campaign in 2016. He was a consultant of then-Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, who was Duterte’s running mate.

Dizon earlier left his post as the president and chief executive officer of the Bases and Conversion Development Authority (BCDA and as presidential adviser on flagship programs and projects.

READ: Palace confirms Dizon’s resignation as BCDA chief

Malacañang earlier said Dizon remains to be the presidential adviser for COVID-19 response and will continue his role as National Task Force against COVID-19 deputy chief implementer.

KGA