SC urged to hold Bar exams in Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao

MANILA, Philippines - Two Mindanao-based lawmakers have called on the Supreme Court to hold the annual Bar examinations simultaneously in Manila, the Visayas and Mindanao.

In their  House Resolution No. 1023, Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez Abante Mindanao party-list Rep. Maximo Rodriguez said it is more practical if the Bar exams are held in the three regions of the country.

"Various law schools in the Visayas and Mindanao have, in recent years, called for the decentralization of the Bar exams and have said exams [should be] held simultaneously in Manila, Visayas and Mindanao," they said.

"Many Bar takers from outside Manila have additional difficulties in going to Manila and staying there for four weeks and it would be more disadvantageous for the examinees from the provinces, not only financially but also emotionally and psychologically," they added.

But the High Court had argued that it would be very difficult to conduct Bar exams outside of Manila due to budgetary constraints and the difficulty of ensuring the integrity of the test questions to prevent leakages particularly when the questioners are being transported.

At present, the examinations for admission to the Bar of the Philippines are being held annually in the City of Manila.