7,227 take Bar exams at UST in 4 Sundays starting tomorrow
A total of 7,227 law graduates from all over the country will take the 2017 Bar examinations in the next four Sundays starting tomorrow, Nov. 5, at
the University of Santo Tomas (UST) in Manila.
Supreme Court (SC) records showed that the number of examinees this year is bigger than those in 2015 and 2016 –6,605 and 6,344 examinees, respectively.
Subjects covered in the four-Sunday tests are Political Law, Labor Law, Civil Law, Taxation, Mercantile Law, Criminal Law, Remedial Law, and Legal and Judicial Ethics.
Chairperson of this year’s bar examinations is SC Justice Lucas P. Bersamin.
“Any act that undermines the safe and orderly conduct of the bar examinations or disturbs the due decorum therefor shall be punished with direct contempt of court, and shall be dealt with summarily,” Bersamin said in a notice. The conduct of bar examinations is an official function of the SC.
The Philippine National Police, National Bureau of Investigation, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, and the Coast Guard have been deputized to ensure the safe and orderly conduct of the Bar examinations. Their duly designated personnel are authorized to prevent any violations of the orderly conduct of the bar examinations, Justice Bersamin said.
The SC has adopted contingency measures for the four Sundays of the examinations, Ma. Cristina B. Layusa, deputy clerk of court and bar confidant, said. Among the contingencies were: 1. In case of heavy rain in the morning of a Bar examination day, 10 SC buses will be available to transport bar examinees and duty personnel to the UST from the following pick-up points – Quezon City Memorial Circle (2 buses), Park and Ride, Lawton, Manila (1 bus), SC Compound, Taft Ave., Manila (2 buses), Coastal Mall Terminal, Parañaque (2 buses for Nov. 5, 19, and 26), EDSA Magallanes Flyover (beneath the flyover), Pasay City (2 buses on Nov. 12), Greenbelt and Glorietta, Ayala Center, Makati City (2 buses), Marikina Sports Complex (1 bus). The SC shuttle buses will be in these areas as early as5 a.m. and leave at 5:30 a.m. Only bar examinees and duty personnel are allowed to ride the buses on a first-come, first- served basis. Bar examinees must present their notice of admission, gate pass, and/or ID cardto the bus driver.
2. In case of flooding inside the UST compound before the examinations starts, commuter vans will be available to transport Bar examinees and duty personnel from the UST gates to their respective examination buildings in UST. Priority will be given to senior citizens, pregnant women, and persons with disability.
3. In case flooding persists after the end of the examination, the commuter vans will be available to transport the examinees and duty personnel to the Osmeña and Arellano Drives near Gate 5 on España Boulevard, where the shuttle buses are parked. The SC shuttle buses shall then be available to transport them to the following drop-off areas – north-bound passengers to the QC Memorial Circle; south-bound passengers to Park and Ride in Lawton, Supreme Court premises, and at the Coastal Mall Terminal, Paranaque, on Nov. 5, 19, and 26), to EDSA Magallanes Flyover in Pasay City on Nov. 12); and Ayala Center (Glorietta and Greenbelt); and/or Marikina Sports Complex.
4. On Nov. 12, Roxas Blvd. will be closed to traffic in view of the ASEAN Summit.
Special court
The Supreme Court will also set up a special court within the University of Santo Tomas (UST) where anyone arrested for causing trouble within 100 meters of the campus during the Bar exams will be immediately tried for direct contempt of court charges, the Manila Police District (MPD) warned.
The court, presided by a regional trial court judge, is authorized to hand down punishment on-the-spot such as fines and up to 10-day imprisonment, or both.
Chief Supt. Joel Coronel, director of the MPD, said 775 policemen will be deployed in and around the UST campus on November 5, 12, 19, and 26. During these four Sundays, traffic along the Quiapo-bound lane of España will be re-routed from 4 a.m. to 7 a.m. and from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Parking will also be strictly prohibited on the streets surrounding UST, including España, Dapitan, P. Noval, and Lacson.For the convenience of elderly and handicapped examinees and SC personnel, the city of Manila will send five electric tricycles (E-trikes) to UST to provide free shuttle services, Coronel said.
The sale, distribution, and consumption of liquor will be strictly prohibited within 100 meters of UST.