2,103 new lawyers take oath via video conferencing
The Supreme Court (SC) held an online oath-taking, via video conferencing, of 2,103 new lawyers who passed the 2019 bar examinations yesterday, June 25.
The online oath-taking was the first in the history of the country’s process of admitting new lawyers in the practice of law, SC spokesman Atty. Brian Keith F. Hosaka said. The online oath-taking was linked to a government television network for broadcast.
The release of the results of the 2019 bar examinations was done online by the SC last April 29 through its website – sc.judiciary.gov. ph – because of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic that forced the government to declare a national health emergency and imposed quarantine.
The signing of the roll of attorneys, the last step to becoming a full-fledged lawyer, will be done from July 6 to August 3 at the SC offices on Padre Faura Street, Ermita, Manila.
Yesterday’s online program started with the call to order by Chief Justice Diosdado M. Peralta.
The invocation was led by Associate Justice Jose C. Reyes Jr.
The recognition of examiners and the petition for admission to the bar was done by Senior Associate Justice Estela M. Perlas Bernabe, chairperson of the 2019 bar examinations committee.
The oath was administered to the new lawyers by SC Clerk of Court Edgar O. Aricheta.
Associate Justice Marvic Mario Victor F. Leonen, the chairperson of the 2020 bar examinations committee, delivered the address.
The number of 2019 bar passers represents 27.36 percent of the 7,685 law graduates who took the 2019 bar examinations administered by the SC last November.
Mae Diane M. Azores of the University of Santo Tomas (UST), formerly Aquinas University, in Legazpi City topped the examinations with a rating of 91.0490 per cent.
The other topnotchers are Princess Fatima T. Parahiman, University of the East, 2nd place, 89.5330 percent; Myra M. Baranda, UST-Legaspi, 3rd, 88.8250; Dawna Fya O. Bandiola, San Beda College (Alabang), 4th 88.3360; Jocelyn B. Fabello, Palawan State University, 5th, 88.2630; Kenneth Glenn L. Manuel, UST, 6th, 88.1730; Rhowee D. Buergo, Jose Rizal University, 7th, 87.8710; Anton Luis A. Avila, Saint Louis University, 8th, 87.5820; Jun Dexter H. Rojas, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, 87.5765; and Bebelan A. Madera, University of St. La Salle, 10th, 87.3795.