Estrada: Law and order during bar exams, bar ops

The police will immediately arrest unruly individuals involved in bar operations during next month’s 2017 bar examinations at the University of Santo Tomas (UST), Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada warned.

The Supreme Court (SC), Estrada said, will set up a provisional court presided by a judge right at the UST campus during the examination days to instantly try and hear cases and impose punishments on troublemakers apprehended by the Manila Police District (MPD).

“They will be immediately put to prison. The court wants them arrested immediately,” Estrada warned, citing the new measure to be implemented by SC in the November bar exams.

“So we hope this will serve as a warning to everyone.”

Estrada has also instructed MPD director Chief Supt. Joel Coronel to put up a tight security cordon around the UST campus where the examinations will be held.

Coronel said the new measure has been set by 2017 bar exams committee chairperson SC Associate Justice Lucas Bersamin in agreement with the UST officials.

Under the new rule, any person engaged in bar operations who will disrupt, disturb, or create disorder within 200 meters of the UST grounds during the examination days shall be held for direct contempt, apart from violations of penal laws and city ordinances, according to the MPD chief.

“Right there and then, we will arrest them and bring them to the judge on duty, who will prescribe the appropriate sanctions, including prison time,” Coronel said.

“That’s why this early, we’re asking those who will be doing bar operations to keep in mind these new rules and regulations.”

All those doing “bar ops” within the immediate vicinities of UST, Coronel said, have also been asked to coordinate and make the necessary arrangements with the UST Faculty of Civil Law and the MPD prior to the November examinations.

“Bar ops will still be allowed as long as it will be orderly and not cause any trouble,” Coronel said.

Bar operations are a longstanding tradition among school organizations and fraternity groups to demonstrate their support to bar examinees.

Part of the tradition includes putting up tents and merry-making on the streets. Coronel said it also includes helping examinees review for the tough exams.

However, Coronel said the festivities and partying around the exam venue have become notorious for flare-ups among rival school prompting SC to ban it during the 2008 and 2011 bar exams.