Bar exams generally peaceful – police

MANILA, Philippines — The first day of this year’s Bar examinations started yesterday at the University of Santo Tomas (UST) in Manila with no untoward incident reported by the police.

The Supreme Court (SC) said a total of 8,245 law graduates took the exams, higher than the 8,155 Bar takers last year.

The Manila Police District has deployed at least 600 policemen to secure the examinees and the SC personnel administering the exams.

“The start of the Bar exams was generally peaceful,” police said.

The examinees will take the exams on all Sundays of November.

Police implemented a stop-and-go scheme for pickup and dropoff of examinees along P. Noval and Dapitan streets, Lacson Avenue and España Boulevard before and after the exams.

The stretch of Lacson Avenue, P. Noval and Dapitan streets were closed to traffic while the exams were being held.

Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta, Bar chair Associate Justice Estela Perlas-Bernabe as well as Associate Justices Marvic Leonen and Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa went around UST and visited the Bar takers before the exams.

“I hope a lot of law students would pass the Bar exams this year. We need more lawyers,” Peralta said.

SC spokesman Brian Keith Hosaka said there are around 65,000 members of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines.

Palace offers prayers

Malacañang offered prayers for the Bar examinees and encouraged them to make their schools and family proud. 

“We offer our sincere prayers to the legal aspirants who toiled day and night poring over their law books, court decisions and jurisprudence in preparation for this life-changing moment,” presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said.  

“Good luck as we wish you all the best. Believe in yourselves and give your best shot. Make your family, school, and community proud. Rise to the challenge,” he added. 

Panelo said the Bar exam “marks the culmination of a journey for over 8,000 examinees who dream of embarking a career in the legal profession.” – With Alexis Romero, Evelyn Macairan