PRRD still trusts Magalong despite birthday bash gaffe

MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte still trusts and respects Baguio City mayor and contact tracing czar Benjamin Magalong despite the latter’s attendance to the controversial birthday bash of celebrity Tim Yap, Malacañang said on Thursday.

“Buo po ang tiwala ni Presidente kay Mayor Magalong. Buo po ang kaniyang respeto kay Mayor Magalong (The President trusts Mayor Magalong. He has high respect for Mayor Magalong),” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a virtual press conference.

Roque’s statement came after Magalong drew flak after attending Yap’s controversial birthday party held at the Manor, a private hotel at Camp John Hay in Baguio City on Jan. 17.

Videos and photos showing Yap and other personalities not wearing face masks and face shields during the Jan. 17 party went viral on social media.

Magalong confirmed Wednesday that he and his wife attended the party.

Magalong also admitted that there were “outright” violations of health measures during the birthday celebration of Yap. He said Baguio City government’s legal officer is already investigating the incident.

Roque said the Palace is expecting fair probe into the supposed breach of health protocols during Yap’s birthday party.

“When he (Magalong) sees that the law will be implemented, we trust that Mayor Magalong will implement the law,” he said.

Roque is also optimistic that no preferential treatment would be given to Yap amid ongoing investigation.

“Pagdating sa pagpapatupad ng protocols, wala po tayong kinikilala. Mayaman, mahirap, babae, lalaki, o anumang kasarian, kinakailangn po iyang ipatupad (Everyone should observe health protocols, regardless of their status. Rich or poor, women or men, they must follow the protocols),” he said.

Baguio City is currently under modified general community (MGCQ).

Under the national government’s omnibus guidelines, mass gatherings in MGCQ zones are allowed provided that participants are “limited to 50 percent of the seating or venue capacity.”

In an interview with CNN Philippines on Tuesday, Yap apologized for failure to observe health protocols during his birthday celebration.