Upholding the right of our readers to reply to any article appearing in our pages that they deemed impacted on them – more negatively than positively, as is the usual case – I am ceding my space to this letter from Ms. Rachelle C. Lacson
Executive Secretary to the Clark Development Corp. President/CEO Arthur Tugade.
I am not aware – as of this time – of any kinship with the letter-writer, which, anyway, is a non-issue in the publication of her letter. We respect her right to be heard, in this wise, read. The headline, okay, title of the piece below is ours.
This refers to your headline article in today’s PUNTO CL issue particularly the alleged “cussing” and “screaming” of CDC P/CEO Tugade at an office secretary after having failed to answer the phone after two rings when she came back from her restroom break.
While you may have alluded to my person being the designated secretary and one who walks in an abnormal manner, I would just like to point out some inaccuracies that were fed by your source.
Perhaps, your source has given you totally inaccurate information relative to this. Please allow me to clarify and state some facts, to wit;
1. It is true that P/Tugade has been very straightforward in setting up his office protocols.
This includes the answering of the telephones in two to three rings, a directive he has given from the first day he met with the CDC-OP staff. This is also an existing company policy which has been already a practice by the CDC-OP staff (and other departments/offices) even before P/Tugade assumed his post.
2. There was never a “cussing” and “screaming” incident over the failure of the secretary to answer the phone while on bathroom break. Thus, that allegation was baseless and false.
3. It is also important to note, having cited (according to your source) the same secretary’s reason on her failure to answer the phone was due to the fact that she was walking with a “hobble”.
4. The apparent “failure” of the secretary with a hobble was not because of the “polio or being a person with disability”. To put it more precisely and politically/medically correct, I have been diagnosed with lower pelvic scoliosis – a temporary condition that prevents me from walking faster, but, nevertheless, does not make me qualify as a person with disability.
5. My current physical condition has been duly noted by P/Tugade in the early days of his assumption into office, citing my “special walk” as a basis to be proud and that it makes me special and unique among the rest. He said that it should not hinder me from achieving my goals.
6. Your article has touched a very sensitive issue on persons with disability and how it was made to appear on the context of how they are being treated in an office setting. I would like to invite you to personally speak with the CDC President and ask him about his personal views on PWDs. I am almost certain that he will openly speak about the subject in the same manner he did when he first met with me being part of his office staff.
We hope that this letter has given you a more accurate perspective on the (non) issue at hand.
Thank you very much.
(Ashley Manabat, who wrote the “cussing” article, stands by his story and by his sources – Editor)
