SC disqualifies bar examinees for violating rules, ‘Honor Code’
THE SUPREME COURT (SC) has disqualified several bar examinees for violating rules and the “Honor Code,” the exams chair announced Sunday, the last of the two-day written test for aspiring lawyers.
Justice Marvic M.V.F Leonen, who heads the Office of the Bar Chairperson, said among the violations include withholding information on previously testing positive for coronavirus, using a mobile phone inside the examination room; and accessing social media during lunch break inside the testing venues.
“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 2020/21 Bar examinations but most especially to those examinees who could have taken the Bar examinations were it not for their positive COVID-19 test results,” Mr. Leonen said in a statement.
There were 219 applicants who were unable to take the exams after testing positive for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID- 19). Bar takers were required to undergo an antigen test Friday, the first day of the exam.
Those disqualified are still eligible to take future bar exams.
About 11,000 examinees took the bar exams in 31 testing sites across the country on the first day, Mr. Leonen said in a press briefing Friday.
“The examinees this year will fill the lack of lawyers we’ve had over the past two years because of the pandemic,” he said. — John Victor D. Ordoñez
