PRC bares 18 fake professionals in CAR

BAGUIO CITY (December 11, 2024) -- The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) in the Cordillera region bared it uncovered 18 fake professionals this year here.

Lawyer Cresente Lumerez of the PRC-CAR said that these so-called "professionals" were using fake licenses in their work, prompting criminal charges slapped against them.

Ten had been promptly charged, one is presently under investigation and seven others were endorsed to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for appropriate action, Lumerez said.

Lumerez detailed that these fake professionals worked as teachers, nurses and civil engineers without taking or passing the government regulatory examinations for these professions.

He also bared that one impostor was even posing as a physician.

The PRC appealed to report anyone who is using a fake license, so that appropriate charges will be filed against them. 

Lumerez said that fake professionals will be dealt with cases of falsification of documents and illegal practice of profession and may face imprisonment of six months to six years upon conviction.

Meanwhile, the PRC said it is targeting to implement a Computer-Based Licensure Examination (CBLE) in March 2025 in Baguio City.  Said CBLE will be applied for sanitary engineers, certified plant mechanics, occupational therapists, physical therapists, librarians, psychologists, chemists, mining engineers and x-ray technologists.

Procurement procedures are ongoing, particularly for the venue where the CBLE will be conducted.