MANILA, Philippines — Amid the threat posed by the Omicron variant of COVID-19, the Supreme Court (SC) decided yesterday to push through with this year’s Bar examination.
From the previous four consecutive Sundays, the 2020/2021 Bar exams will be shortened to two days – Jan. 23 and 25.
“In view of the COVID-19 pandemic and the effects of Typhoon Odette, the high court, upon the recommendation of the Bar chairperson, resolved to reduce the coverage and shorten the duration of the Bar exams pro hac vice,” the SC said.
Pro hac vice means that this will only be applicable to the 2020/2021 Bar exams.
“The Bar examinees for this coming Bar have reviewed for longer than all the other batches taking the exams under very difficult conditions,” the SC said.
The Bar chairperson is Associate Justice Marvic Leonen.
The Bar exam was supposed to take place for four Sundays beginning Jan. 16.
The SC said all examinees are advised to undergo self-quarantine starting Jan. 9 or at least two weeks before the exams.
The Philippines has not produced new lawyers since the pandemic started in March 2020.
The Integrated Bar of the Philippines Cebu chapter had asked the SC to postpone the Bar exams in areas affected by Odette.
Gadon suspended
Meanwhile, the SC preventively suspended lawyer and senatorial candidate Larry Gadon following his verbal assault on a journalist.
The SC gave Gadon 10 days to submit his comment and to show cause why he should not be disbarred in connection with his viral video uttering profanities against Raissa Robles.
“Gadon’s preventive suspension from the practice of law is effective immediately and to last until lifted by the court,” the SC said.
His suspension stemmed from a 20-second video last Dec. 15, showing him uttering offensive words against Robles.
In the video that went viral on social media, Gadon expressed his exasperation at Robles for calling his presidential candidate former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. a tax evader.