Baguio nursing examinees urge Visayas, Mindanao probe

BAGUIO CITY (Oct. 12) — Baguio nursing licensure examinees, who spilled the beans on the nursing leakage scam urge the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to investigate possible leakages in the Visayas and Mindanao.

Lawyer Kissak Gabaen, one of the legal counsels of the said nursing examinees disagreed with the NBI findings that the leakage only happened in Baguio City and Manila. He said his clients would formally lodge an opposition to the NBI findings, at the least, and demand a thorough investigation in Visayas and Mindanao.

He insists that the leakage spread throughout the country as he claims that leakage materials “originated from the Professional Regulations Commission (PRC) and the Board of Nursing (BON) and were given to review centers operating nationwide.”

He explained that Davao and Surigao people had insinuated to join the fight against this scam since several months ago.

The NBI, said Gabaen, only concentrated their investigation in Baguio and Manila because it was in these areas where protests were strong. “It was only in Baguio that (examinees) had the guts to start the fire against the leakage followed by Manila,” he stressed.

The NBI on Wednesday, three days earlier than the government-set October 15 deadline, announced that the leakage was limited only to Baguio City and Manila and that 17 officials of at least three review centers would be charged for their alleged involvement.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said President Arroyo and the Cabinet have agreed to let the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) decide for a retake or no retake based on the NBI findings. # Ace Alegre for NORDIS