ARCHBISHOP Oscar Cruz of the Lingayen-Dagupan archdiocese threw his support behind those who passed the 2006 Board Examinations for Nurses when he officiated in a prayer-rally held at the Dagupan City Plaza last Monday.

An arch critic of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Cruz wondered why all the passers are being punished, requiring them to retake the examination for the sins of only a few.

Some 500 nursing board passers, their parents and supporters joined the prayer-rally which was followed by a vigil and the lighting of candles.  

Expressing his sympathy for the board passers, Cruz appealed to Malacañang not to punish all the passers by asking them to retake the exams and instead to look for the passers who benefited from the leakage and make them retake the examinations.

 Kailan ba nangyari na pag nagkamali yung isa, paparusahan ang lahat? Saan galing yung batas na yun? Nasaan ang katuwiran? Angkatarungan?” asked Cruz.

Cruz chided the flip-flopping of President Gloria Arroyo over the issue when she first ordered the retake of the June examinations, only to take it back the following week, and lately she appeared to have changed her mind again.

 The archbishop said it is wrong to punish all the passers who are innocent or those who studied well in order to pass the examination. “Even the unschooled people can understand that it’s wrong to punish all the passers just for the mistake of some,” said Cruz.

 Cruz assured board passers not only in Pangasinan but all over the country that he will support their fight against the retake of the examination and their request that they be given their respective licenses.

 “Let’s pray for the truth, let’s pray for the justice to come soon,” Cruz told his audience.

Meanwhile, Gringo San Diego, the board topnotcher from University of Pangasinan, has appealed to President Arroyo to listen to their sentiments and reverse her decision that they retake the examination.

 “We deserve our hard-earned licenses. We studied hard. I studied hard to pass the exams, so please don’t punish the innocents like us,” pleaded San Diego.

“No retake, stop the agony of board passers, justice for innocent, and serve same justice for nursing of 2006,” read the board passers’ placards..

 Parents who affiliated themselves with the newly organized Parents Alliance of New Nurses, Pangasinan Chapter.showed their support to their children. “We want justice for our children,” shouted one parent.

 Cresencio Moreno, a father of two daughters who passed the 2006 examination, strongly denounced the position of Malacañang.

 He appealed to the administration to wait for the decision of Court of Appeals and for the results of the investigation of National Bureau of Investigation before making a decision on the matter.

 “Huwag nilang unahan ang imbestigasyon ng NBI. Let’s wait for it,” said Moreno, who admitted that he, and his wife were very much affected by the controversy. — AQL

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