Senator Gatchalian alarmed over claims of leakage in PRC exams

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian voiced serious concern over claims of possible leakage in professional licensure examinations conducted by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), warning that such incidents could result in unqualified individuals entering regulated professions.

“This is alarming. The whole point of coming up with an examination for professionals is to ensure that we have doctors, engineers, or teachers who are qualified. Nakakatakot na mamatayan tayo dahil lang may leakage kaya nakapasang doktor o gumuho ang mga building dahil nakapasa lang na engineer dahil sa leakage," Gatchalian said during a recent Senate hearing.

“Even though it's an allegation, I’m very much concerned because we spend so much in regulating these professions and so much time in making laws,” he added.

Gatchalian’s remarks came after findings from the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) indicated that test items from the March 2023 Board Licensure Examination for Professional Teachers had been leaked online.

Dr. Rosita Navarro, chairperson of the Career Progression and Specialization Program Credit Accumulation and Transfer System Committee for Professional Teachers, said any leakage did not originate from within the PRC, noting that members of the board are typically quarantined while examination questions are being prepared.

She said it was raised during the hearing that there is a strong possibility that the leaks occurred during the actual conduct of the examination.

The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) is the government agency responsible for licensing and regulating professions such as medicine, engineering, nursing, and teaching. Licensure exams are designed to ensure that only qualified individuals are allowed to practice in their respective fields, with strict security measures in place to protect examination content.

Members of the examining boards are typically quarantined while test questions are being prepared, and exams are conducted under supervision from law enforcement or PRC staff.

Despite these safeguards, exam leakage controversies have occurred in the past. In September 2025, a PRC exam watcher in Davao City was arrested for allegedly photographing a teacher licensure exam and sending it to a review center. Similar scandals have emerged over the years in professions ranging from nursing to law, prompting investigations and legislative scrutiny.

PRC rules explicitly prohibit the removal, copying, or unauthorized disclosure of exam content, with violators facing fines and imprisonment.

The agency has also had to contend with misleading social media posts and fake pages claiming to offer exam results. PRC continues to advise examinees to rely solely on official channels for information, emphasizing that exam integrity is critical to ensuring that only qualified professionals serve the public.

-Paraluman News