By Froilan Gallardo
Special Correspondent

HIGH profile Dr. Lorraine Nery relinquished her post as deputy of the anti-coronavirus task force last Friday even as the city continues to battle a spike of Covid-19 cases.

Mayor Oscar Moreno said he accepted Nery’s relinquishment as acting City Health Officer and was the deputy of the anti-coronavirus task force since the global pandemic reached Cagayan de Oro on March 16, 2020.

Moreno said he appointed Nery in 2019 as acting city health officer to provide her organizational expertise to reform the health department.

“I have no regret in having made that decision,” Moreno said during Saturday daily presser when he announced the acceptance of the relinquishment of Nery.

The City Information officer has yet to released the letter of Nery to the public and reporters.

City Information Officer Maricel Casiño-Rivera said the letter is still with Mayor Moreno at his office.

Moreno, in a one-page statement, appointed Dr. William Bernardo, currently the head of the city Health Insurance Department to replace Nery.

He said Nery will still remain with the City Health Office.

City Hall sources said Moreno was disappointed when Covid-19 cases were not immediately admitted to the city isolation units (CIU) and temporary treatment and monitoring facilities (TTMF).

Moreno said Covid-19 patients who are asymptomatic cases should be confined in these facilities to help unburden the hospital system in the city.

The city government have rented several hotels and converted them into temporary facilities for mild Covid-19 case.

“We have enough rooms for these cases. It is just a matter of coordinating its operations , “ Moreno said during the press briefing today.

Nery heads and managed the operations of these facilities as deputy of the anti-coronavirus task force.

She also headed the vaccination roll out in the city that Moreno wanted to go faster.

Sources said the meeting last Thursday between Moreno, Nery and other officials was heated.

The same sources said Nery offered to resign but was rejected by Moreno.