A UNIVERSITY president here suggested a win-win solution to put to a happy ending the raging leakage issue even as he subtly warned that a decision for the examinees to retake the 2006 nursing board tests could give rise to some unfortunate legal complications for government.

Dr. Gonzalo T. Duque, president of the Lyceum-Northwestern University, said while he welcomes the decision of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, he viewed the matter of calling for the retaking of the nursing examinations as virtually treading on a dangerous ground that could end up in a lot of legal hitches.

“It is a fact that the PRC (Professional Regulation Commission) already decided to release the result and some of the passers already took their oath and issued their respective licenses,” he said.

Although an ally of President Arroyo in Pangasinan, Duque expressed the view that the decision asking the passers to retake the test could be possibly trying to pre-empt the case pending before the CA.

He said that in order to avoid a costly legal battle, there must be a decision that those who failed in the examination will retake the test and be considered as first timers.

Those who already passed the examination should be allowed to go on with their own lives by allowing them to take their oath and be issued their respective licenses.

Duque foresees more legal problems if the passers will be restrained from asserting their rights under the law.

Duque said there is no point punishing the students for the illegal acts committed by one or two members of the nursing board who may have leaked the questions for the 2006 nursing examinations.

Also a lawyer, Duque advised all concerned to just wait for the result of a case pending before the Court of Appeals which is a separate branch of government.

“In fact, a restraining order was issued by the Court of Appeals and there are parties which intervened, especially those who organized themselves as Association of New Nurses with former Senator Rene Saguisag as their lawyer,” he said.

“This is quite embarrassing if you undo everything that was already done,” he noted, referring to the celebrations and parties already thrown and other expenses for the exam passers by their parents.

Duque said the win-win solution is a good compromise, making all parties really happy. (PNA)