DOLE looking into allegations nursing exam results manipulated

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is investigating allegations that results of the controversial nursing licensure examination were manipulated.

Labor Secretary Arturo Brion said DOLE received a complaint accusing the Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC) of altering the results of the examination.

"We are now studying the documents submitted to us by the PRC, which include the grades of all examinees, so we could check if there were really alterations made," Brion said.

According to Brion, he would ask the PRC officials to make the appropriate explanation if they find sufficient evidence to prove the complaint of the examinees.

They said PRC also changed their grades in Tests 1, 2 and 4, although these were not part of the examination whose answers were reportedly "leaked."

The complainants expressed suspicion that the results were manipulated to ensure that those who benefited from the leakage would also pass the examination despite the re-computation.

In a related development, former senator Rene Saguisag asked the Court of Appeals (CA) yesterday to hold Brion in contempt for barring the nursing board passers from taking their oath.

The CA earlier ruled that board passers, except for 1,687 who were believed to have benefited from the leakage of questions, would be allowed to take their oaths.

In a four-page motion to clarify, Saguisag alleged that Brion acted like the Supreme Court when he stopped the oath-taking of the new nurses last Oct. 16. Saguisag represents Renato Aquino, president of the association of this year’s nursing board passers.

Saguisag pointed out that under the Rules of Court, a judgment in an action for injunction is not stayed, unless this is done by the court that issued the ruling or a higher court.

Saguisag also asked the CA to direct the PRC to immediately administer the oath-taking of all those who passed this year’s nursing board exams.

Last Oct. 16, Brion issued a letter of instruction to PRC chairwoman Leonor Rosero, ordering her to refrain from administering the oath to those who passed this year’s nursing licensure exams.

Brion explained that he stopped the PRC from proceeding with the oath-taking of nurses so as not to complicate the issue, pending the CA’s final decision.

"Any move prior to the finality of the CA decision would only serve as a stumbling block to an early resolution and closure of this care. My objective is for the examinees to move on with their professional lives at the soonest possible time," Brion pointed out.

Brion said the CA’s Oct. 13 ruling ordering a selective retake for those who failed the nursing board exams is not yet final and executory.

Brion then urged the examinees to focus their attention on the verification of their grades and the PRC computation instead of filing a damage suit against him.

He also disclosed that the CA, upon the request of the DOLE, is now looking into the possible holding of conciliation procedures for the early settlement of the case.

Saguisag, however, said Brion "remains insensitive" and now wants "a mediation after a judgment is rendered." He said those who filed the petition for an injunction with the CA to stop the oath-taking may have lost in court, but won through Brion’s order. The petitioners are led by Rene Tadle, president of the University of Sto. Tomas Nursing Faculty Association. — Mayen Jaymalin and Jose Rodel Clapano