May 16, 2009

To: Evelyn Lagamayo, MD, FPSP

President
Philippine Society of Pathologists

Cc: Board of Governors Members

Board of Pathology Members

Dear Sir/ Madam:

Greetings!

It has been a privilege and an honor to be chosen from among the many pathologists
of our specialty society to be relegated to the ranks of Board of Pathology member. I
consider it to be one of the most noble and highly esteemed stature in our Society,
being a Training Officer where I am affiliated and likewise being part of the Academe
for many years now. It has indeed been a great experience and fulfilling job after
having gone through my first task of handling and administering the specialty board
examination in Clinical Pathology last February 2009. It is a realization on my part to
be a role model and gatekeeper of our future generation of Pathologists and I accepted
that responsibility. It is also clear in my mind and heart that upon accepting this
responsibility I have also accepted the challenge of upholding to the highest standard
the core values of honesty, fairness and moral integrity expected of me by the society.
I am very thankful for this opportunity and I had no regrets of accepting the position
and responsibility.

Being a member of the Board of Pathology, I just can’t help but react and be bothered
with regards to Dr. Billote’s case; the litany of the findings of the Ethics Committee,
the decision that was given, and the heated deliberations, so to speak, that transpired
during our past Business Meeting pertaining to the aforementioned case. I am an
apolitical person and likewise I am not a moralist nor am I a perfect person, nobody is
anyway. Nonetheless, I was disillusioned with the final verdict on the case and I
would like to invoke my right as a member of the BOP to render my views on the
matter through this letter since time did not permit me to express my sentiments
especially with the barrage of eager and bold reactors during that time. My reaction
would particularly dwell on what I see as the decaying core values and eroding moral
fiber within the ranks of our society (Philippine Society of Pathologists).

I believe that the Board of Pathology was maligned by the act committed by Dr.
Billote during that time. Even though I was not a member of the BOP then, I was
struck and disheartened by his actions towards the BOP. It was a direct and blatant act
of disrespect to the BOP as well as to the whole PSP; undermining and insulting the
ideals and integrity represented by our society. The acts of conscious dishonesty and
deceit were premeditated and deliberately done against the BOP and our society,
making a mockery out of the members of the BOP who were made to unwillingly and
unmindfully affix their signatures during their term. Not discounting the bogus
American Board of Pathology (Clinical Pathology) certificate that he presented to our
Society (PSP). It was product unbecoming especially of a revered figure not only of
our Society but likewise of our Medical Community, being foremost a Physician. He
should be a role model of every member of our society and uphold the values of being
a Pathologist and a Physician.

I would like to reiterate that I am not condemning the person but rather the malicious
act that he did. We are not stripping Dr. Billote of his previous awards and accolades
from the past because he deserves it and he can keep it. But we can not discount the
fact that he has also done a great disservice to the society in the form of deliberate
deception to the core values and moral integrity that the PSP stand for, the fact that he
maligned the BOP during that period by such acts, overextending his power and
influence; an act that can be construed as inimical to the integrity of our society.
Indeed there was a grave injustice meted out not to a particular person but to our
society (PSP) itself particularly eroding its core values and moral integrity with the
verdict issued by our leaders. It is our moral responsibility as leaders and as members
of the Society (PSP) to uphold the values and righteousness that we should instill and
perpetuate to our young and aspiring Pathologists. They look up to us as icons in our
field, to be emulated and that is indeed a great responsibility. We are like parents to
these young Pathologists and as parents we would want our children to be borne and
be bred in a righteous and morally sound environment. We are here not to mess up
their future but as much as possible to make it perfect for them so that the legacy may
be passed onwards through generations.

There was no remorse, no public apology, not even an apology note to be read or
circulated to the members of our society for reparations for his acts committed against
our Society. He could have transcended his greatness and came out a far more, greater
and better person if he just only exercised the virtue of humility, then it would have
been a totally different story. But pride still prevailed, one of the deadly sins, and that
did him in. Likewise it exemplified a typical example of, “Walang delicadeza!!!” and
“Mga taong tumanda, na walang pinagkatandaan!!!.” (only in the Philippines my
dear colleagues). All of these “Twisted Virtues” we hand it down to our young and
future Pathologists.

I even related this case to my six children ranging from 13 to 22 years old and true
enough they all responded with a resounding statement that the verdict was unfair and
unjust and that it should had been given stiffer sanctions. Nobody should be above the
law. I wonder why these children can discern what is just and what is right from what
is unjust and what is unfair while some members of our society would see otherwise
and can not even discern the facts and gravity of the matter that was laid upon them.
Our leaders should be guardians of moral ascendancy and not otherwise. Not swayed
by “Pressures” but guided by their moral conscience and principles, following the
dictum of “My loyalty to my affiliations end where my loyalty to my society (PSP)
begins.” But on the contrary, what was demonstrated was another prime Filipino trait,
“The Wicked… Utang Na Loob!!!.” (only in the Philippines my dear colleagues). This
again, we pass on to our young and future Pathologists. What could have gone wrong?
Where is wisdom in our Society? Where is justice in our Society? What do we stand
for in our Society? Is this the kind of culture that we want to prevail in our Society
and be passed on to the next generation of Pathologists?
That being said, I would like to tender my resignation as a member of the Board of
Pathology. I believe I can not anymore dispose well of my duties and responsibilities
as a member of the Board of Pathology with still unresolved issues that I have to
reconcile in my mind, heart and conscience. I can not fathom the brilliance of the
decision meted to the case nor can I discern the moral logic to it. I can not bear
witness or be an instrument of leading aspiring Pathologists into an environment
tainted with pride, injustice and unfairness because I consider these young and future
Pathologists as my children. This is a statement as a matter of principle, you may
think otherwise, but for me, with what has transpired, the end does not justify the
means. I believe the penalty imposed does not commensurate to the acts committed
where a mere reprimand is not justifiable. My rhetoric may just be a cry in the
wilderness or just be a drop in a bucket. I am just an “ordinary” member of the society
and not part of the “elite” group, so to speak. But at least in my own little way I have
stood pat on what I believe is morally right in favor of and upholding for the ideals
and principles of what the BOP and what the PSP stand for.

I hope that the new set of officers and members of the BOG would prioritize
programs for the moral reformation and cleansing within our society and administer
corrective measures before it’s too late. If not, our society may end up practicing and
upholding a “Twisted Culture” being handed down from one generation to another
and we may suddenly wake up one morning just to see that our beloved PSP had
already gone to the dogs or maybe even to the swine.

Thank you for the opportunity of serving our Society.

Respectfully yours,

Maximo B. Axibal, Jr., MD, FPSP

cc: Dr. Januario D.Veloso- Vice President

Dr. Mary Yvonette C. Nerves- Secretary
Dr. Jocelyn Myra R. Caja- Treasurer
Dr. Sergio P. Paguio- Immediate Past President
Dr. Noemi D. Bartolome- BOG Member
Dr. John A. Coloma- BOG Member
Dr. Gonzalo B. Roman, Jr.- BOG Member
Dr. Maximo A. Saavedra, Jr.- BOG Member
Dr. Michiko Samonte- BOG Member
Dr. Florido A.Atibagos, Jr.- BOG Member
Dr. Andrew Dimacali- BOP Member
Dr. John Anthony A. Domantay- BOP Member
Dr. Rodelio D. Lim- BOP Member