SWU Inc. goes to court over board exam requirement

CEBU, Philippines - Southwestern University Inc. sued the Association of Philippine Medical Colleges Foundation, Inc. for disallowing its graduates from joining the Post Graduate Internship Matching Program.

SWU Inc. President Dr. Noe Quiñanola said they were compelled to seek refuge with the court because the matching program is a requirement in taking the medical board examination. The deadline for application for postgraduate internship is on August 30.

“Since time is of the essence,  the deadline for the application for postgraduate  internship is only until August 30, 2014; there is no plain, speedy and adequate remedy  in order for the students to be allowed  to do their PGI other than by filing this case for mandatory injunction, in order to compel APMC to allow graduates of SWU College of Medicine to join the Matching Program and complete their PGI, which is a requirement before they can take the medical board examinations,” the complaint reads.

SWU Inc. asked the court to issue a temporary restraining order against the APMC decision.

Named respondents in the civil complaint are Dr. Alberto B. Roxas, APMC president, and Dr. Fernando S. Sanchez, M.D., APMC executive director.

APMC is the umbrella organization of all medical schools, colleges, and universities in the Philippines.

APMC reportedly disallowed the graduates from the SWU College of Medicine from joining the matching program because the college is allegedly not recognized by the Commission on Higher Education, said SWU Inc. lawyer Godwin Denzil Manginsay.

SWU Inc. argues, however, that such decision is baseless.

“There is no basis for APMC to deprive the graduates of the petitioner from joining the PGI Matching Program, allegedly because SWU is not recognized by CHED. It is very clear that the Government Recognition, which until the present remains to be valid recognition, is given to SWU,” petitioner stated SWU Inc. said CHED has no ruling that its College of Medicine is illegal or is not authorized to operate. — (FREEMAN)