Dr. Alejandro C. Baltazar
Dr. Alejandro C. Baltazar was charged with gross negligence, incompetence and inefficiency, lack of professional and civil service qualifications, aloofness from professional and civic organizations.
The Secretary of the Department of Health recommended for the dropping of the charges for lack of merit.
The president of the Philippines, Elpidio Quirino (who was a lawyer), went over the papers of the case and was satisfied that the charges have not been substantiated. President Quirino in his Administrative Order No. 246 entitled "Dropping the charges against Dr. Alejandro C. Baltazar, City Health Officer of Cebu" said that the latter has done his best to improve public health and sanitation in the city but his efforts in this direction have not been successful for lack of funds.
President Quirino found out that though Dr. Baltazar has not taken post graduate work in public health, he was a graduate of the Oklahoma State Medical College and has to his credit more than sixteen years of service as a public health officer.
President Quirino continued that Dr. Baltazar is a civil service eligible, having passed the junior health officer examination given by the Bureau of Civil Service in 1949. Dr. Baltazar was also a member of the Philippine Public Health Association and was an honorary member of the Cebu Dental Association. It was also found out that Dr. Baltazar had certificates from persons representing local health and civic organizations showing that he had not neglected his professional and social obligations.
Then the presidential order exonerating Dr. Baltazar was done during the Yuletide Season with President Elpidio Quirino signing it on December 23, 1953.
Dr. Alejandro C. Baltazar was appointed Cebu City Health Officer by President Elpidio Qurino (at that time, city officials were appointed by the President and was subject for confirmation by the Commission on Appointments) and was confirmed by the Commission on Appointments at its meeting held on February 21, 1950.
The fellow appointees of Dr. Baltazar and successfully confirmed by the Commission on Appointments were Prospero Sanidad, Secretary of Public Works and Communications, Nicanor Roxas, Undersecretary of the Interior, Cecilio Putong, Undersecretary of Education, Jose Romero, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary, Mariano Espelita, Consul-General, Tomas B. Morato, Colonel in the Reserve Force, AFP, Pedro M. Gimenez, Deputy Auditor General, Quintin Paredes Jr., Associate Public Service Commissioner, Benito Pangilinan, Director of Public Libraries, Antonio Maceda, Superintendent of City Schools of Manila, Gabriel Manalac, and Benito Pangilinan, Members of the Board of Textbooks until October 5, 1955.
The Secretary of Health that recommended the dropping of charges against Dr. Baltazar was Secretary Juan Salcedo, who was President Qurino's Secretary of Health from 1950 to 1953. He continued to be the Secretary of Health when Quirino lost to Magsaysay in the election held on November 10, 1953. Salcedo's term as Secretary of Health extended to May of 1954. The Department's name at that time was "Department of Health and Public Welfare". Dr. Juan Salcedo was responsible for the construction of 81 demonstration Rural Health Units in 1953.
Dr. Baltazar was Cebu City's Health Officer when Typhoon Amy and Wanda struck Cebu on November and December of 1951. The Cebu City Health Department was created by virtue of Republic Act 376 on June 14, 1949. Dr. Baltazar was City Health Officer during the term of the following mayors: Miguel Raffinan, Pedro Elizalde, Jose V. Rodriguez, Pedro Clavano, and Serging Osmeña Jr.
- Latest
