MANILA, Philippines – After nearly two weeks of uncertainty surrounding an unnamed topnotcher, the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) has officially revealed the identity behind the highest rank in the March 2026 Physicians Licensure Examination (PLE), resolving a rare and closely watched omission in the results.
In an update released on Sunday, April 19, the PRC confirmed that Dr. Erwin Ken A. Parchaso of Lyceum-Northwestern University (LNU) secured the Top 1 spot, completing the list that was initially published without the name of the highest-ranking examinee.
The PLE results were first announced on April 8, showing that 1,954 out of 2,781 examinees, or 70.26 percent, successfully passed the licensure examination administered by the Board of Medicine in testing centers nationwide.
At the time of release, the Commission listed the topnotcher as “name withheld,” an unusual move that drew attention and prompted questions from the public and the academic community.
Under PRC procedures, a withheld result indicates that an examinee has a computed rating but remains subject to final verification or review in accordance with existing rules and regulations.
The absence of a name at Rank 1 suggested that the highest-rated examinee was among those undergoing verification, alongside five other examinees whose results were withheld pending final determination of their liabilities, and one examinee whose result required further confirmation.
With the updated list now made public, Dr. Parchaso officially leads the roster of successful examinees, emerging at the forefront of 1,954 new physicians from a total of 2,781 examinees.
Alexis Bernardo Temblique of Cagayan State University-Tuguegarao ranked second with a rating of 90.58 percent, as previously announced by the Commission.
In a statement, Lyceum-Northwestern University’s Dr. Francisco Q. Duque Medical Foundation College of Medicine said it “proudly honors Dr. Erwin Ken A. Parchaso for achieving Top 1 in the March 2026 Physicians Licensure Examination—emerging at the forefront of 1,954 successful passers out of 2,781 examinees nationwide.”
The institution added that “this exceptional accomplishment reflects outstanding excellence, dedication, and the strong foundation of medical education within the Lycean community,” noting that it is the only university in Pangasinan to produce a topnotcher in this examination cycle.
— The Summit Express