Hidalgo and Rosero in Arroyo’s eyes

Inquirer
Last updated 01:18am (Mla time) 10/10/2006

Published on page A12 of the October 10, 2006 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer

I BELIEVE that Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) Chair Leonor Tripon-Rosero are acting out a poorly written script.

Look: Arroyo orders a retake of the leaked portions of the June 2006 nursing board exam.

Immediately, Rosero, her personal dentist, announces to the nation that she would listen to no one but the court. The always combative Ms Arroyo lets the comment pass. She does not castigate her alter ego under the PRC Modernization Law. Is this a dream? Where is the Arroyo who publicly berated Acting Education Secretary Fe Hidalgo for claiming that our public school system is suffering from acute lack of classrooms?

A has been soft on the PRC head since day one. The leakage issue was a manageable one, but Rosero’s mishandling caused it to metamorphose into a scandal of international magnitude. It embarrassed the nation. It caused the examinees and their families untold anguish and sufferings. There is no doubt that Rosero’s head must roll. It should have rolled a long time ago.

But then again, one should not wonder why Hidalgo and Rosero were not similarly treated by Arroyo. Hidalgo was on the side of truth, Rosero has chosen to take the opposite side.

Because of government indecisiveness on the leakage controversy, we are still on a stalemate.

The real victims here, aside from the nursing profession, are the innocent examinees. Whether it is retake or no-retake, a “win-win” solution is beyond their reach. It is unjust to require them to retake an examination where they did not cheat. It is also unjust to not hold a retake because that is the only way to remove the stigma caused by PRC’s incompetence.

The victims will retake the exam. Some will do it gladly and will be thankful for the decision.

More will do it grudgingly and may even blame the Cordillera-based whistle-blowers who are actually the unsung heroes—though not everyone realizes this yet. These victims cry for what approximates justice -- the guilty must be punished -- and punished soon. The PRC officials who aggravated their troubles should go -- and go fast!

CHERYL L. DAYTEC-YAÑGOT, legal counsel for the “Baguio Braves” who exposed the leakage, St. Louis University, Baguio City (via e-mail)