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Monday, October 16, 2006
Palace submits to court ruling on nursing test scam
MANILA -- Labor Secretary Arturo Brion said Saturday he will no longer issue any decision on the retake of the June 2006 nursing board passers.
"The executive branch may no longer act on the validity of the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) Resolution 31 and its consequences in light of the Court of Appeals (CA) ruling on the matter," said Brion, who earlier recommended for a retake of the nursing licensure exam following reports that the leakage does not only cover Luzon but also reached the Visayas and Mindanao.
He said the ruling issued by the CA last Friday is already enough since "it has clearly and carefully scrutinized the issue before coming out with a decision."
Brion said he would instead ask the CA to come up with a conciliation move to appease all stakeholders on the nursing board examinations issue and eventually put an end to the controversy.
Malacañang earlier said that it would no longer issue any administrative order following the CA's resolution favoring a selective retake of Tests 3 and 5.
The labor secretary said the executive branch would be charged with contempt if they push through with any order.
He said he had talked to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and informed her that he would no longer submit any recommendation and his plan to write to the CA for the proposed conciliation. He said Arroyo approved his decision.
Under the conciliation process, all stakeholders would be called by the court to resolve the issue and come up with a solution that is acceptable to most of those involved.
Brion said whatever the decision will be, it should also "close this affair while maintaining the integrity of exams."
He said he had talked to most of the stakeholders and majority want this similar closure to the issue soon and at the same time maintain the integrity of the board examinations.
He added that the conciliation proposal would just be in form of a letter since the Office of the President and the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) are not direct parties to the case. It is the PRC, which is under the labor department that is a party to the case.
Brion said the President had already agreed to his idea when he talked and explained to her the issue. He said he also issued a formal memorandum to the President on the matter.
He said he merely informed Arroyo that it is now up to the courts to decide if the selective retake would become final. He said certain groups which are unsatisfied with the ruling are expected to file a motion for reconciliation before the CA and if they remain unsatisfied, go to the Supreme Court (SC) to file a motion for certiorari.
On the issue of the oath being administered to the legitimate passers, Brion said.
Malacañang is not stopping them but he feels that the CA decision is not yet final until all the possible appeals are resolved.
Presidential chief of staff Michael Defensor said he expects the CA decision to end the issue after it has been resolved that there was actual cheating in the exams and those involved -- including the source of the leakage and the beneficiaries -- had been identified.
Defensor in a radio interview reiterated that President Arroyo and the Cabinet members were vindicated by the CA ruling as they have favored the conduct of a retake since the start.
Stiffer penalties
Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said Malacañang through the Dole, the PRC and the Commission on Higher Education (Ched), is drafting a proposed bill that would impose stiffer penalties against those who are and would attempt to trifle with integrity of professional standards and at the same time prevent a repeat of possible leakage in the future.
Bunye said the three agencies along with other concerned bodies were also directed by Arroyo to come up with specific and concrete measures that will "insulate all licensure examinations and procedures, protect their integrity and clear the way of any doubts on the excellence of Filipino professionals".
He said controversy surrounding the nursing licensure exams has already struck a blow and unfairly brought a stigma to Filipino professionalism and all stakeholders must join hands to ensure that this never happens again.
"We have to protect the integrity and competitiveness of our students and professionals who comprise our principal and most important resources," he added. (MSN/JMR/CPB/Sunnex)
(October 16, 2006 issue)
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