Isko team to welcome Dizon 'eventually,' says Banayo after Palace denial

Lito Banayo, campaign manager of Manila Mayor and presidential aspirant Isko Moreno, on Thursday said Vince Dizon, chief deputy implementer of the National Task Force Against COVID-19, is set to join Moreno's team "eventually."

In a statement issued a day after he reportedly bared that Dizon has joined Moreno's campaign team, Banayo said they understand Dizon's "important role" in the government's efforts to address the pandemic.

"We understand the important role of Secretary Dizon in the COVID-19 pandemic response, especially as we are ramping up the efforts to achieve a higher level of immunity. As both Mayor Isko Moreno and our campaign team could only hope that we safely transition to a new normal at the soonest possible time, something already achieved in the City of Manila, we respect Secretary Dizon’s commitment in carrying out this crucial task," Banayo said.

"We support his efforts even as we will welcome him in our team eventually."

In a short statement, Dizon said he is not part of any political campaign.

"I confirm the statement of Cabinet Secretary and acting presidential spokesperson Karlo Nograles that I am not involved in any political campaign," Dizon said.

"My focus is on the national government’s overall COVID-19 response and recovery, including the country’s vaccination program," he added.

Banayo's statement came after Malacañang denied earlier reports quoting him as saying that Dizon has already joined Moreno's campaign team.

"There is no truth to the reports circulating that Secretary Vivencio 'Vince' Dizon allegedly joined the campaign team of a presidential aspirant," Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said in a statement.

"Secretary Dizon is focused on the vaccination efforts of the government, and not with any political campaign."

According to Nograles, who is also the acting presidential spokesperson, Dizon "remains a working member of the Cabinet of the Duterte Administration as Presidential Adviser for COVID-19 response."

Dizon, the government's "testing czar" amid the COVID-19 pandemic, resigned as president and chief executive officer of the state-run Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) in October.  —KBK/RSJ, GMA News