Purisima nephew willing to take Bar 50 times

The nephew of Supreme Court Justice Fidel Purisima is so obsessed with becoming a lawyer that he is willing to take the Bar examinations 50 times.

Mark Anthony Purisima, 32, passed the 1999 Bar examinations but his name was stricken off the list of successful examinees last April 14 because he allegedly failed to submit a certification that he had taken a pre-Bar review course.

"It (Bar examinations) is more than just a dream, it has become an obsession for me to become a lawyer," he told The STAR in a telephone interview recently.

"Even if I take it (Bar) 50 times, I would do it so I can be a lawyer. When I become old, I will ask myself, why I did not do this (take the examinations), maybe next time I will pass. Besides I would lose nothing and also life is like that."

Under the Rules of Court, an examinee who has failed the Bar examinations thrice is required to submit the certification within 60 days after taking the Bar for the fourth time.

Purisima said he took the pre-Bar review course at the University of Santo Tomas (UST) from April to September 1999 as evidenced by a certification issued by Dean Amado Dimayuga on July 22, 1999.

However, he said he forgot to submit the certification of the pre-Bar review course to the Supreme Court , and that he thought the document from UST was enough and that he had "substantially complied with all the requirements."

"I'm confident that I would be able to convince the Court on this," he said. "I'm willing to be subjected to a thorough and impartial investigation and to undertake a lie-detector test."

Purisima said he took his refresher course at the Philippine Law School from June 1998 to March 1999 after he thrice failed the Bar examinations (1995, 1996, and 1997).

He tried to parry criticisms that it was impossible for him not to have received any leakage, saying that his uncle did not know that he took the 1999 Bar examinations.

"I really kept that secret," he said. "In fact, I kept it a secret from my family. There was even a point that I became angry at my mother because she told my sibling about it. Also because I have taken the Bar several times."

Purisima also belied allegations that he had cheated to pass the Bar examinations, saying that if he did so, he could have helped most of his classmates and friends, two of whom flunked.

"I have been a victim of people who are angry at my uncle and who want him removed (from his job)," he said. "They are using me as bait. It is all right for my uncle because he will retire soon. But what about me? They have destroyed my life."

However, he expressed confidence that he would be able to convince the 14 justices of the Supreme Court that he did not falsify any document and that he will eventually vindicate himself.

Purisima said he was willing to do whatever it takes to clear his name and that of his uncle's, who was removed as chairman of the 1999 Bar examinations after he failed to inform the Court that his nephew was an examinee.