Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong has resigned as contact tracing star for the National Task Force Against COVID-19. Magalong quit because he and his wife attended a birthday party at a posh hotel in the city, where the guests were found to have violated health protocols such as keeping social distance and wearing masks.
The task force rejected his resignation, saying its leadership continues to have trust and confidence in him.
“We could not accept his resignation because he has done a lot for us,” said NTF chief implementer and vaccine czar Carlito Galvez.
Magalong insisted his resignation was irrevocable.
In previous months, Magalong’s able handling of the pandemic in Baguio City was held as an example to many local government units. Earlier this month, however, the detection of the virus’ new strain in neighboring Mountain Province caused renewed concerns in the area.
Magalong acknowledged his judgment lapse in attending the party, his way of thanking the host, he said, for the latter’s efforts to promote local tourism and help the city’s struggling artists.
“In hindsight, being a senior officer of the (National Inter Agency Task Force for COVID-19), I should have done an immediate spot correction of the errors I witnessed (at) the time,” Magalong wrote in his resignation letter.
“This is a reminder that a higher standard is expected of me,” he added.
Magalong has taken one step further than the other VIPs found to have violated protocol during these precarious times. Senator Aquilino Pimentel III saw nothing wrong with going to the hospital to accompany his wife—and going to the supermarket before that—even as he had known he had tested positive for the virus. Deplorably, the Justice Department just last week cleared Pimentel of violating the law by saying he was not a health official and was therefore not covered by the prohibitions, never mind that he was a ranking lawmaker whose entitlement took precedence over basic consideration for the welfare of others.
And then there is now-Philippine National Police Chief Debold Sinas, who in May, as chief of Metro Manila police, did not have the moral boldness to turn away his well-wishers who surprised him with a dawn birthday party. No less than President Duterte cleared Sinas and even rewarded him with the top post at the PNP.
Other mortals have been arrested and detained—even killed—for less serious violations, and even as these were done to earn a living.
Filipinos’ dismay and disenfranchisement with VIPs who are first to break the very rules they are supposed to enforce comes from the many months of sacrifice and restraint, even at the cost of our comfort and livelihood.
Magalong sets a sterling example for all public officials who have erred, and will still err, during this pandemic. Of course the best scenario was that officials did their job well and did not violate any rules, making their leadership effective. But in the event of human lapses, the Baguio mayor shows us the next best thing: That officials acknowledge their failure, embrace the consequences of their actions, acknowledge that nobody is indispensable, and in all humility and decency step down from their post—rejecting the notion they are a cut above the rest.
Many who have less to contribute than Magalong does selfishly cling to their posts and continue to inflict themselves on us. Mayor Magalong’s decision is an act of decency we rarely see these days.