A GRADUATE  of the University of Santo Tomas emerged as the topnotcher in the October 2026 Physician Licensure Examination, leading 4,164 other successful candidates, the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) reported Thursday.

Maxine Francesco Gwyneth Cena Baculo earned the highest rating of 95.50 percent among the 4,447 examinees who took the national examination.

The PRC released the results four days after the last day of testing on Oct. 11.

University of the Philippines-Manila graduates Rene Louis Quiambao Singson and Kenworth Bryle Pasabing Bal-Iyang captured second and third places, respectively, with ratings of 95.08 percent and 94.83 percent.

Their fellow UP-Manila graduate Israel Miña Aguba placed fourth with 94.75 percent.

Fifth place was shared by Megan Camille Limketkai Benedicto of the Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health and Keano Miguel Solomero Brion of the Davao Medical School Foundation, both earning 94.33 percent.

Ian Cedric Dabay Tan of UST ranked sixth with a score of 94.25 percent.

The seventh-place finishers were Mutya Anne Denus of De La Salle Medical and Health Sciences Institute, Angelo Pansoy Hulugan of FEU-Nicanor Reyes Medical Foundation, and Marielle Andrea Conjurado Velasco of the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila. Each received 94.17 percent.

Alexis Urmatan San Diego of UP-Manila took eighth place with 93.92 percent.

Three candidates tied for ninth with 93.83 percent: Justin Victor Go Ang of UST, along with UP-Manila graduates John Francis del Carmen Buduhan and Michael Afurong Tee Jr.

The 10th-place ranking was shared by five examinees who posted 93.75 percent: Alvin Agassi Quibral Alangco, Jeremee Gerald Alejo Cabral, Alain Kenny Ng Chong and Mikaela Kho Magpayo of UST, and Nurhaida Saing Langgal of Western Mindanao State University in Zamboanga City.

The PLE was administered on Oct. 3, 4, 10 and 11 in testing centers across the National Capital Region, Baguio, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Koronadal, Legazpi, Lucena, Pampanga, Rosales, Tacloban, Tuguegarao and Zamboanga.