THE Supreme Court yesterday said “a number of Bar examinees” were disqualified for violating policies of the Office of the Bar Chairperson and the “Honor Code.”
This was disclosed by Associate Justice and Bar Committee Chair Marvic Leonen on the final day of the two-day 2020/2021 Bar examinations taking place in 31 testing centers nationwide.
Leonen, who did not disclose how many examinees were disqualified, said he received reports of examinees who deliberately entered test centers without disclosing they had tested positive for COVID-19, while there are those who smuggled mobile phones inside examination rooms.
Others also accessed social media during lunch break inside the premises of the testing centers.
“For their infractions, I am exercising my prerogative as Bar chairperson to disqualify these examinees from the 2020/21 Bar Examinations. I take my constant message of honor to the examinees seriously,” wrote Leonen in a Bar bulletin.
“I owe it not only to those who risked their lives just to make the 2020/21 Bar Examinations happen despite all odds, but most especially to those examinees who could have taken the Bar Examinations were it not for their positive COVID-19 test results,” he added.
However, Leonen said the disqualification applies only for the 2020/2021 Bar, meaning they can still take the exams in the coming years.
“For now, reflect on what you have done, but know that you can still change your narrative.
You will not end up as the examinee who lost your honor forever in your desperation to pass an examination. Learn from your mistake, and earn your honor back,” Leonen said.
Meanwhile, 219 examinees were not able to take the Bar after they tested positive for the COVID-19 virus.
Neither Leonen nor the Office of the Bar Confidant disclosed how many examinees actually reported back for the tests yesterday, the last day of the two-day examinations.
During the first day of the Bar held last February 4, Leonen said that 11,378 out of 11,790 law graduates fees took the tests. During previous Bar examinations, the number of examinees who took the tests dwindled from Day One as some opted to not take the examinations any further for various reasons.
