THE Supreme Court, represented by Associate Justice Marvic Leonen, has made it clear to all young, aspiring lawyers that entering the legal profession is a serious matter, and the first order of business for Bar examinees is to learn how to follow the rules.
This is what Justice Leonen told the examinees in the 2020-2021 Bar examinations, and followed it up with concrete action — by disqualifying a number of exam takers for various breaches of the policies of the Office of the Bar Chairperson and the Honor Code.
Among the infractions of the rules that Leonen validated and which became the basis for the disqualification of the erring candidates are entering local testing centers without disclosing that they previously tested positive for COVID-19; smuggling mobile phones inside the examination rooms; and accessing social media during lunch break inside the exam premises.
‘For those who were disqualified,
they can find solace in the fact
that the punishment applies only
for the 2020-2021 tests, and that
they can always apply in the next Bar examinations, this time they might already have learned from their mistake.
The Honor Code for Bar Examinees had been written, rewritten and disseminated to all concerned parties in the exams, and participants do not have any excuse for not knowing them.
The Code declares that examinees must not do “any act that can be construed as cheating or dishonesty by the Bar Chairperson or by the Supreme Court.”
They commit “to voluntarily isolate or quarantine myself and strictly follow all health protocols (including COVID-19 testing requirements) within the period required by the Bar Chairperson, so as not to infect others with the virus causing this pandemic.”
The Code is emphatic in declaring the examinees’ personal pledge: “I understand that my carelessness with respect to isolation, quarantine, and health protocols will affect the future of others who, like me, aspire to pass and become lawyers.”
Leonen did the right thing in exercising his prerogative to impose disciplinary action on violators of the rules. He said, “I take my constant message of honor to the examinees seriously. I owe it not only to those who risked their lives just to make the (examination) happen despite all odds, but most especially to those examinees who could have taken the exam were it not for their positive COVID-19 test results.”
For those who were disqualified, they can find solace in the fact that the punishment applies only for the 2020-2021 tests, and that they can always apply in the next Bar examinations, this time they might already have learned from their mistake..
