By Perfecto T. Raymundo, Jr.
MANILA — The wife of a dismissed marine officer urged the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) to act on her complaint against a nurse employed by the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) for allegedly having an illicit affair with her husband. Faiza Mutlah Utuali accused Senior Fire Officer 2 (SFO2) Reyca Janisa P. Palpallatoc of engaging in an affair with her husband, which she claims violates professional and moral standards.
Utuali lamented that the PRC has yet to act on the case she filed against Palpallatoc, who is now reportedly in hiding abroad.
“My complaint was submitted to the PRC a month ago, but to date, I have not received any response from its officials,” Utuali said.
Utuali added that she discovered her husband’s affair with Palpallatoc in February 2024.
Palpallatoc, who passed the Nursing Board Exam in 2012, works as an Emergency Medical Responder for the BFP, where she allegedly met Utuali’s husband.
In her complaint, Utuali described the relationship as “shameless, immoral, and abominable conduct,” which she claimed created a toxic workplace environment.
“Their public displays of affection at work caused discomfort among their colleagues, who informed me about the situation because they felt uneasy,” Utuali said.
“Worse, respondent Reyca pretended to be in a legitimate relationship with my husband, showing no regard for decency or professional ethics,” she added.
Utuali stressed that Palpallatoc’s actions violate the ethical standards set for both government employees and licensed nurses.
She cited violations of Board of Nursing Resolution No. 220, Series of 2004, Republic Act No. 9173 (Philippine Nursing Act of 2002), and Board Resolution No. 425, Series of 2003.
“I reiterate that respondent Reyca’s behavior is not only unprofessional and immoral but also undermines the integrity of the nursing profession. Such conduct must not be tolerated,” she said, urging the PRC to revoke Palpallatoc’s Nursing Certificate of Registration and Professional License.
In addition to this case, Palpallatoc is facing a warrant of arrest issued by a Pasay City court for charges of illegal recruitment allegedly committed within the BFP.
This development has broader implications, potentially affecting the careers of her mother, Jane, and her mother’s live-in partner, Cleotilde Delos Santos, who works in the BFP’s accounting and pension departments, respectively.
Concerns have been raised about potential conflicts of interest and the integrity of their roles in the agency.
Manila (2nd District) Rep. Rolando Valeriano, Chairperson of the House Committee on Metro Manila Development, issued a strong reminder to government employees, particularly those in uniformed services, to uphold moral standards and respect family values.
“Uniformed personnel, such as those in the BFP, police, and military, must serve as moral exemplars. Their personal actions reflect the integrity of the institutions they represent. Such behavior erodes public trust,” Valeriano said.