MANILA, Philippines (Update 2, 01:59 p.m.) — The country is set to welcome 2,103
In a tweet, the SC Public Information Office released the message of 2019 Bar Chairperson Senior Associate Justice Estela Perlas-Bernabe.
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#Bar2019 Chairperson Senior Associate Justice Estela M. Perlas-Bernabe delivers her message https://t.co/3zNgXX8IBf. 2,103 out of 7,685 examinees (27.36%) who completed #BernaBar2019 passed. Actual results will be uploaded soon to the SC website.
— Supreme Court Public Information Office (PIO) (@SCPh_PIO) April 29, 2020
“The Court en banc had decided to lower the passing rate from 75 percent to 74 percent in light of among other considerations the discerned need for more younger and technologically adept lawyers to help different front of society as we meet the peculiar challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic and transition to the new normal,” Bernabe said in a taped message.
“Passing the bar is truly an extraordinary feat to which you should all be proud of,” she added.
In this time of pandemic, Bar hopefuls did not flock to the Supreme Court to check if their names will be posted outside its gates or be flashed on a LED wall installed at the SC premises.
The high court did not post their names on boards outside the compound anyway, but previously told them to "stay in their respective homes."
Instead, lawyer-hopefuls turned to the SC website for the announcement of successful Bar takers.
The message of Senior Associate Justice Perlas-Bernabe, 2019 Bar chairperson, was also posted on the high court’s website.
A total of 8,304 law graduates applied to take the 2019 Bar examinations, but only 8,295 were allowed to take the test. Fifty others withdrew before the exam started on the first Sunday of November 2019.
There were 7,685 finishers of the Bar.
Last year, 1,800 new lawyers took oath, posting a 22.07% passing rate.
Two-examiner policy
For the 2019 Bar exams, the SC adopted a two-examiner police on every subject in the Bar exam.
They are:
• Political Law and Public International Law: Dean Sedfrey Candelaria and former Commissioner Rene Sarmiento
• Labor Law and Social Legislation: Dean Salvador Poquiz and retired Justice Arturo Brion
• Civil Law: Justice Priscilla Baltazar-Padilla and Dean Cynthia Del Castillo
• Taxation: Court of Appeals Justice Japar Dimaampao and Atty. Lily Gruba
• Mercantile Law: Justice Maria Rowena Modesto-San Pedro and Atty. Francisco ED. Lim
• Criminal Law: Judge Selma Alaras and Justice Apolinario Bruselas Jr.
• Remedial Law: Court of Appeals Justice Maria Filomena Singh and Assistant Solicitor General Marissa Macaraig-Guillen
• Legal Ethics and Practical Exercises: Sandiganbayan Justice Maria Theresa Mendoza-Arcega and Labor Commissioner Pablo Espiritu