MANILA, Philippines—Out of 7,685 bar candidates who took last year’s Bar Examinations, 2,103 takers were able to make it. The nationwide passing rate is 27.36 %.
Compared to the results for the past five years, this year’s Bar Exam results poses a relatively higher passing percentage. With the exception of the 2016 Bar Exams results which bannered a 59.06% national passing rate, this year’s bar ranks first compared to 22.07% of 2018, 25.55% of 2017, and the 26.21% of 2015.
As announced earlier by the Office of the Bar Confidant, the results were released in the Supreme Court’s Official Website in line with the efforts of preventing the spread of COVID-19. The traditional posting of passers inside the compound of the Supreme Court was suspended. However, amidst the current situation and pandemic, the Bar results were posted without any problem or commotion.
According to Associate Justice Estela Perlas-Bernabe who served as the 2019 Bar Exams Chairperson, the passing grade for this year is pegged at 74%. “The court en banc had decided to lower the passing rate in light of among other considerations the discerned need for younger and technologically adept lawyers to help different fronts of society as we meet the peculiar challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic and the transition to the new normal,” she further stated.
In addition, Associate Justice Perlas-Bernabe also shared a message to all those who recently passed the examinations. “Always be reminded that with the distinction you gained as lawyers comes with it the concomitant responsibility to further the ideals of justice and the rule of law,” she emphasized.
Mae Diane Azores of the University of Santo Tomas-Legazpi notched the honor of placing first in the recently announced result with a grade of 91.049 %. Princess Fatima Parahiman, on the other hand, brought with her and the University of the East the honor of placing second behind Azores with a grade of 89.523 %. In addition, Azores’ schoolmate Myra Baranda was also able to notch a spot in the top 3 with a grade of 88.825%.
Here's the complete list of those who made it to Top 10.
For this year, the Supreme Court decided to readopt the policy of having two examiners for every subject in order to “promote operational efficiency.” This year’s examiners are as follows: Dean Sedfrey Candelaria and Former Commissioner Rene Sarmiento for Political Law and Public International Law; Dean Salvador Poquiz and Justice Arturo Brion for Labor Law and Social Legislation; Justice Priscilla Baltazar-Padilla and Dean Cynthia R. Del Castillo for Civil Law; Justice Japar Dimaampao and Atty. Lily Gruba for Taxation Law; Justice Rowena Modesto San-Pedro and Atty. Francisco Lim for Mercantile Law; Judge Selma Alaras and Justice Apolinario Bruselas Jr. for Criminal Law; Justice Maria Filomena Singh and Assistant Solicitor General Marrissa Macaraig-Guillen for Remedial law and; Justice Maria Theresa Mendoza-Arcega and Commissioner Pablo Espiritu for Legal Ethics and Practical Exercises.
Associate Justice Perlas-Bernabe also announced that the clearance procedure, oathtaking of successful Bar examinees, and the signing of the roll of attorneys will be announced in due time on their official website.
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