ni Ronalyn Seminiano Reonico | January 29, 2021
Nais nang magbitiw sa puwesto ni Baguio Mayor Benjamin Magalong bilang COVID-19 contact-tracing czar matapos dumalo sa kontrobersiyal na event kung saan nalabag diumano ang mga ipinapatupad na health protocols.
Kinumpirma ni Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque na nagpasa na ng resignation si Magalong ngunit hindi tinanggap ng Malacañang. Saad ni Roque, “We confirm that Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong tendered his resignation as the government’s tracing czar.
“Mayor Magalong’s resignation, however, has not been accepted. He continues to enjoy the trust and confidence of the leadership of the National Task Force (NTF) Against COVID-19.”
Sa isinumiteng resignation letter ni Magalong kay Secretary Carlito Galvez, Jr., chief implementer ng NTF Against COVID-19, inamin niyang sa kinasangkutan niyang isyu, may mga hindi talaga nasunod sa protocol.
Aniya, bilang senior ng task force, "I should have done an immediate spot correction of the errors that I witnessed during that time. Much as I have given my best to discharge my duties for the Task Force, this incident has been a reminder that a higher standard is always expected of me...
"This is to formally tender my resignation as Contact Tracing Czar, Lead Implementer for Contact Tracing in the National Task Force for Coronavirus Disease 2019.”
Matatandaang sa isang radio interview, inamin ni Magalong na may mga dumalo sa naturang event na nagtanggal ng face mask para makapag-picture taking. Ito ay idinaos sa Camp John Hay Manor, Baguio kung saan si Tim Yap ang host. Saad pa ni Magalong,
"Maybe because of the excitement, they took off their masks and took pictures.” Isa rin si Yap sa mga nakatanggap ng pambabatikos matapos kumalat sa social media ang mga larawang kuha sa naturang event kung saan makikitang hindi rin nasunod ang physical distancing.
Depensa naman ni Yap, hindi party ang naturang event kundi “dinner” para sa pagpo-promote ng local tourism at sumailalim din umano ang mga guests sa COVID-19 testing bago sila makadalo. Aniya, "Ang goal namin is to help restart the economy, help the economy by restarting tourism. "Nagkataon may music at lumabas na cultural dancers.”
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