Bacolod City (3 October) -- After making a tough decision to have the nurses retake their tainted board examination results, Malacañang is appealing to them have another exam so that once and for all, doubts and negative image created by the scandal is dispelled.

In an official statement, officials said "the government appeals for the cooperation of all concerned, as this is a matter of national interest. Upholding the integrity not just of the of the nursing licensure examinations but those of other professions is the centerpiece of the President's decision to order a retake."

With this appeal is the assurance that the government will exert all the legal means to identify the culprits and bring them to justice until all doubts are erased and the dignity of the nursing profession is restored her and abroad.

"There could be no better way, at least for the meantime, for the government to bail out the integrity and reputation of the country's health professionals in the eyes of the people and the world but through the retake," Malacañang further said.

In Negros Occ. the decision was met with protests, asserting that they passed the exam by hard work and were not part of the leakage scam that rocked the nation in disbelief.

Negros Occ. 3rd District Representative Jose Carlos "Kako" Lacson reechoed Malacañang's appeal to nursing students to accept the retake offer, as the government would shoulder the examination costs.

Furthermore, the country's nursing profession and the entire nation would benefit from it, he said.