7 October 2019

HON. MA. ROSARIO C. AVESTRUZ

Municipal Mayor
Barugo, Leyte

Madame:

Greetings!

On 1 October 2019, the undersigned was in receipt of a copy of

Midwife II Zenaida A. Alcober’s (Midwife Alcober) Comment dated 30
September 2019 to the undersigned’s Letter- Complaint dated 23
September 2019. As the undersigned feels the pressing need to
clarify points raised by Midwife Alcober in her Comment, the
undersigned is constrained to respectfully seek for leave to file herein
Reply.

To begin with, the undersigned stresses that she made no

admission in her subject Letter- Complaint that she abandoned her
post while on duty on 21 September 2019.

It is unfortunate that Midwife Alcober, in her effort to save

herself from the repercussions of her assailed conduct on 21
September 2019, had to resort on distorting the facts and made it
appear in her subject Comment that the undersigned “admitted in
the letter that, while on duty as midwife on September 21,
2019, she went out and was gone for half a day to attend an event
not sanctioned by the MHO or the LGU of Barugo.” (underscoring
supplied)

Midwife Alcober was taking refuge on semantics rather than be

guided by the truth. She had deliberately forgotten that, in
conscience, she knew very well that the undersigned HAS NOT
commenced yet with her duty on 21 September 2019 when the
undersigned met Midwife II Irene Merialles (Midwife Merialles) and
asked the latter to take her (the undersigned’s) post by reason of the
undersigned’s conflict of schedules.

Relative thereto, it is noteworthy that Midwife Merialles

together with her partner Midwife xxx was on duty since 20
September 2019 (Friday). Her duty would have ended in the morning
of 21 September 2019 (Saturday) with the undersigned and Midwife
Alcober taking the shift thereafter. However, by reason of the
aforesaid conflict of schedules, Midwife Merialles continued with her
duty- nay extended her working shift, until the undersigned
arrived in the MHO from Jaro, Leyte. This is the internal practice/
internal arrangement observed in the MHO meant by the undersigned
in her Letter- Complaint of 23 September 2019 and not that what
was deliberately depicted wrongly by Midwife Alcober in her subject
Comment, i.e. leaving one’s post while on duty so long as someone
takes over the former’s stead.

Candidly, the undersigned initially believes that she does not

have to belabor herself in explaining what she referred to as “internal
arrangement” in her subject Letter- Complaint for the undersigned is
banking on the truth that every employee in the MHO of Barugo,
Leyte is aware about this, Midwife Alcober herself included.
Surprisingly, Midwife Alcober is making a big fuss out of this despite
being knowledgeable about this and despite having made use of this
arrangement herself. Hence, this Reply.

Moreover, a strict scrutiny of her Comment will readily show

that Midwife Alcober never bothered on relieving herself from the
other allegations in the subject Letter-Complaint. Would that
tantamount to her acquiescing to their truth following the so- called
admission by silence in law? Instead, she was mainly putting
premium on her misleading concept of “internal arrangement” in her
Comment to discredit and coy the undersigned.

Lest it be forgotten that the gamut of the undersigned’s resolve

in seeking succor with the concerned body was the undersigned’s
near death experience with Midwife Alcober. On this note, it may not
be amiss to emphasize that good health occupies the highest rank in
the hierarchy of importance.

Very truly yours,

SUSANA C. BURERES
Midwife II

cc:

Midwife Zenaida Alcober

Dr. Lourdes Calzita
Nurse II Sonia Caňeda
The Grievance Committee
Civil Service Commission-Leyte Field Office