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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider CabSec hopes Magalong will stay on as contact tracing czar

CabSec hopes Magalong will stay on as contact tracing czar

Published Jan 30, 2021 12:24 pm

The National Task Force against COVID-19 does not have someone in mind yet as the replacement of Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong in the hope he would reconsider his irrevocable resignation as contact tracing czar.

Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles (PCOO / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)

Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said this Saturday as NTF chief implementer Carlito Galvez Jr. would still talk to Magalong about the matter.

Magalong was tasked to lead efforts in tracing contacts of those who contracted the coronavirus. He was appointed as government’s contact tracing czar last July 2020.

“We’re not thinking yet about his replacement. I don’t want to preempt President Duterte but on our level, I know that Sec. Charlie Galvez will still talk to Mayor Magalong,” Nograles said in Filipino over ABS-CBN Teleradyo.

The official added they hoped Magalong would reconsider his decision and would wait for his reply.

Magalong had resigned from his post following intense backlash for attending celebrity Tim Yap’s controversial birthday party in Baguio City, where attendees were seen violating COVID-19 protocols. 

His resignation was not accepted by Duterte’s pandemic task force, but Magalong insisted it was “irrevocable.”

While they were saddened by his resignation, Nograles said the contact tracing czar already apologized for his missteps and he deserves a second chance.

“We saw how Mayor Magalong deeply regretted the incident and apologized not only to us but also to the public and I think we understand and we should give Mayor Magalong another chance,” he said.

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