Nursing graduates picket PRC

By Margaux Ortiz
Inquirer
Last updated 07:41pm (Mla time) 10/02/2006

MORE than 200 nursing graduates who passed the tainted June examinations held a rally in front of the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) in Manila Monday to protest President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s order for a partial retake of the test.

"We are disappointed with the sudden turnaround of the President," Renato Aquino, who spoke in behalf of the board passers, said in an interview with reporters.

Aquino, a graduate of Family Clinic Colleges in Manila, said Arroyo had declared a no retake policy on the examinations on August 27 and August 28.

"We wonder what pushed her to change her mind and decide on the retake without even consulting the PRC and the students," he added.

Aquino stressed that the order had preempted the pending decision of the Court of Appeals (CA) on the issue.

"We are all for the prosecution of those responsible for the leakage, but we passed the exams fair and square and should not be made to suffer," he said.

According to him, many of the board passers have undergone training programs and are preparing to work abroad.

"Many recruiting and staffing agencies have been approaching us to offer us jobs," he said.

Aquino added that nursing graduates in Zamboanga, Cebu, Baguio, Bacolod and Bohol also held simultaneous rallies to protest the retake order.