Baguio City mayor and contact tracing czar Benjie Magalong insisted that his resignation from the National Task Force against COVID-19 was irrevocable.

The resignation comes after Magalong and several others attended the controversial birthday party of Tim Yap in Baguio City, where health protocols were violated.

Magalong said that he is set to meet with Secretary Carlito Galvez and Vince Dizon on this matter.

“I’m due to meet with Secretary Galvez this week together with Secretary Vince, and again I would like to reiterate that my resignation is irrevocable. I will continue to help in the contact tracing,” Magalong told ABS-CBN News.

The city mayor said that if President Rodrigo Duterte will tell him to stay in his post, then he will be obliged to do so.

Magalong however hopes that the issue will no longer reach Duterte.

“It is a situation that no one can refuse if the President tells you to stay and perform your job. I cannot refuse the President. Pero hindi naman na siguro aabot ‘yan kay Presidente, sa dami ng problema ng Presidente. Siguro at the level ni Secretary Galvez, makapagdesisyon na,” he said.

Magalong said that he is still continuing to do his role as contact tracing czar and is now leading efforts in Bontoc and La Trinidad.

“I continue to perform my job as contact tracing lead, in fact mina-manage pa rin namin ‘yung situation doon sa Bontoc and La Trinidad and I just met with Asec. France Laxamana yesterday of DOH and we are due to meet with her team on Wednesday para nga turuan namin ng aming analytical tools, especially on the aspect of link analysis,” Magalong added. (TDT)