LACSON: PLUG THE HOLE, STOP FUTURE EXAMS LEAK
Says stay of EO is a `rare but welcome Palace judgement

Sen. Panfilo Lacson welcomed Friday Malacañang s decision to put off at least for now a planned executive order for the retake of the June 2006 nursing board examinations.

It is a rare but welcome sign of good judgment on the part of Malacañang to stay on the side of prudence on this matter, Lacson said citing at least two reasons why the order for the exams retake should be stayed.

First, Lacson said Malacañang should exhaust all means to get into the bottom of the nursing exams leak and identify those who are culpable for it. He said the results of the ongoing investigation might also lead into the legislation of fresh laws that would ensure that a repeat of the incident would not occur.

It is imperative that we plug the hole, by means of legislation, to stop future leaks, Lacson, who recently reclaimed the chairmanship of the Senate Committee on Civil Service Commission, said.

Secondly, Lacson said the gesture at least shows Malacañang still has some degree of respect for the judiciary, which is a co-equal branch of government.

He reiterated that it would have been presumptuous of Malacañang had it issued the EO ordering the retaking of the nursing examinations, as petitions on the issue are still pending before the Court of Appeals.

The Court of Appeals has not issued any decision on the matter, yet Malacañang already made a decision. Why would it preempt the judiciary when it is a co-equal branch of government? he said.

Malacañang announced Wednesday it would put off issuing the EO for now, and wait for the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to submit its findings on the matter.

Earlier, Lacson said that at the very least, Malacañang should have been more discerning and deferential to the court, instead of making such an announcement that many feel was too sudden.

He cited complaints from nursing students and their families, particularly those in provinces outside Luzon, that the retake would cause them both financial and mental anguish.

There should be a presumption of innocence. Yet, those who passed the examinations feel they are being treated as if they were guilty, he said.