3,747 pass, USC grad tops 2016 Bar exam

A total of 3,747 or 59.06 percent of 6,344 law graduates who took the 2016 Bar examinations passed the tests, the Supreme Court (SC) announced yesterday

Justice Presbitero J. Velasco Jr., chairman of the 2016 bar examinations committee, said the number of 2016 successful bar examinees is much higher than in the 2015 examinations where only 26.21 percent or 1,731 of 6,605 examinees passed the tests.

Velasco said the oath-taking of the new lawyers will be held on May 22 starting at 3 p.m. at the Mall of Asia (MOA) Arena in Pasay City. Registration will start at 11 a.m.

Lawyer Christina Layusa, SC’s bar confidant, said clearances for the new lawyers will be issued starting May 8 until May 21.

None of the successful examinees from Metro Manila law schools landed in the top 10.

The 2016 Bar topnotcher is Karen Mae L. Calam of the University of San Carlos (USC) in Cebu City with a rating of 89.05 per cent.

The others in the top ten are Alanna Gayle Ashely Khio, Siliman University (SU), 2nd place, 88.95 per cent; Fiona Cristy D. Lao, USC, and Athalia B. Liong, Andres Bonifacio College, both 3rd place with 88.80 per cent; Allana Mae A. Babayen-On, University of San Agustin (USA), 4th place, 88.75 per cent; Justin Ryan d. Morilla, Ateneo de Davao University (Ateneo-Davao), 5th place; 88.40 percent; Mark Dave M. Camarao, Northwestern University, 6thplace; 88.10 per cent; Anne Margaret E. Momongan, USC, 7th place, 87.80 per cent; Jefferson L. Gomez, USC, 87.70 per cent; 8th place; Nia Rachelle M. Gonzales, University of Batangas, and Marie Chielo H. Ybio, SU, both 9thplace with 87.50 per cent; and Andrew Stephen D. Liu, SU, 87.45 per cent; 10th place.

The examiners were retired SC Justice Antonio Eduardo B. Nachura, Political Law and Public International Law; Court of Appeals (CA) Justice Magdangal M. de Leon, Labor Laws and Social Legislation; CA Justice Japar B. Dimaampao, Civil Law; Court of Tax Appeals (CTA) Justice Lovell R. Bautista, Taxation; CA Justice Ramon Paul L. Hernando, Mercantile Law; CA Justice Victoria Isabel A. Paredes, Criminal Law; SC Justice Noel G. Tijam, Remedial Law; and CA Justice Myra V. Garcia Fernandez, Ethics and Practical Exercises.

The examinations were administered by the SC and held for four Sundays in November last year at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila.

Malacañang congratulated the country’s new batch of lawyers and expressed hope they will consider a career in public service.

“Congratulations to the 3,747 examinees who passed the 2016 Bar Examinations,” Presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said. “We pray that many of the successful examinees would pursue a career in government and join us in building a progressive and inclusive nation with a trustworthy government run by young people full of idealism, integrity, and excellence.”