DAVAO CITY — A 29-year-old private school teacher was arrested after being caught taking photos of the official questionnaire during the Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET) in Davao City on Sunday, September 21.
The suspect, who also serves as a senior high school faculty member in a prominent university, was contracted by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) as a room watcher for the exam held at Davao City High School. Minutes before the examination ended, the teacher allegedly took pictures of the test papers and was suspected of sending them to a review center in exchange for ₱10,000.
Operatives of the National Bureau of Investigation–Southeastern Mindanao Regional Office (NBI-SEMRO), in coordination with PRC-Davao, apprehended the suspect on-site. Authorities confirmed that this is the first recorded incident of a contracted watcher leaking exam questions in the Davao Region.
NBI investigators are now tracing possible accomplices, including individuals from the review center believed to have transacted with the suspect. A subpoena has already been issued to the said institution as part of the ongoing probe.
PRC announced that an administrative case will be filed against the suspect, while the NBI is preparing criminal charges for violating Republic Act 8981, or the PRC Modernization Act of 2000. The offense carries penalties of six to 12 years of imprisonment, fines of up to ₱100,000, and permanent disqualification from taking or supervising any government examination.
Authorities reminded contracted watchers and examinees that strict security measures are in place to protect the integrity of board examinations. They also warned that anyone found conspiring in similar schemes will face the full force of the law.
The suspect remains in NBI custody as investigations continue.