Magalong says he again tested positive for COVID-19

Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong on Wednesday said he has tested positive for COVID-19 for the second time.

Interviewed on Super Radyo dzBB, Magalong said he is now under home isolation.

“Actually, tinamaan ako ngayon. Nasa home isolation ako. Very mild. This is my second time na na-hit ako ng COVID,” he said.

(Actually, I am now infected [by the coronavirus]. I am under home isolation. My condition is very mild. This is my second time I got hit by COVID-19.)

Magalong, who received a booster shot of a COVID-19 vaccine, said that on the second day of his isolation, he had already recovered from the symptoms. He is now on the fourth day of isolation.

In April 2021, Magalong first tested positive for COVID-19.

Meanwhile, the mayor called out local government units and mayors who are allegedly manipulating their COVID-19 numbers by limiting their testing efforts.

According to him, these officials are making their COVID-19 condition look better to project good performance to voters as the elections nears.

“Yung ibang LGUs, mayors ayaw nilang lumabas na mataas ang kaso nila dahil ang pananaw nila it will reflect on their performance. Of course, with this forthcoming elections, talagang maapektuhan sila,” he said.

(Other LGUs, mayors do not want to show that the number of their COVID-19 cases is high because they think it will reflect on their performance. Of course, with this forthcoming elections, they will really be affected.)

Asked about scrapping the alert level system for classifying areas for COVID-19 risk, Magalong said he is in favor of the proposal.

“Ako pabor talaga kung puwede tanggalin na (I am really in favor if the alert level system could be removed). We're just waiting for the experts to give that advice),” he said. —KG, GMA News