MORE than 8,000 aspiring lawyers trooped to the University of Santo Tomas (UST) in Manila on Sunday to take the first of the four-Sunday 2018 Bar examinations.
The Supreme Court reported no untoward incident during the start of the exams as at least 400 policemen were deployed to main peace and order around the UST premises.
As part of the yearly tradition, Bar send-off activities were held by law schools, fraternities and sororities, organizations as well as families and friends for the examinees on the first Sunday at the designated areas outside the venue.
Prior to the Bar exams, Associate Justice Mariano del Castillo, chairman of this year’s SC Bar exams committee, met with law school deans for their traditional breakfast. Bar-related issues were discussed.
Associate Justice Marvic Leonen, former law dean of the University of the Philippines (UP), was also present at the venue to check on the security operations and to give moral support to the examinees.
“Eat well, sleep well. Don’t panic and take the exam one question at a time,” he told the Bar examinees entering the UST campus.
As part of the security measures, the Manila City government imposed liquor ban within the 100-meter radius of UST and a “no parking” policy is implemented along the streets of España and Dapitan during the conduct of the exams.
“No tent and tarpaulins” and “no loud music” policies at the vicinity of the venue are also imposed for the four-Sunday exams.
Medical personnel were also deployed for emergency situations.
This year’s examinations will consist of 100-percent essay-type questions.
The Bar examinees took the exams on Political and International Law, and Labor Law and Social Legislation for the first Sunday. Civil Law on November 11; Mercantile and Criminal Law on November 18; and Remedial Law, and Legal and Judicial Ethics and Practical exercises on the last Sunday of the month.
A total of 1,724, or 25.5 percent of the total of 7,227 examinees, passed the 2017 Bar.
Deputy Clerk of Court and Bar Confidant Ma. Cristina B. Layusa said the number of Bar examinees this year is the highest in recent years.
Image credits: Roy Domingo
