As more than 10,000 aspiring lawyers took the last day of the grueling 2023 online Bar examinations yesterday, the Supreme Court clarified the exams will be checked personally by four examiners per subject and not through artificial intelligence contrary to the claims posted in at least two Facebook accounts.
Associate Justice Ramon Paul Hernando, chairperson of the 2023 Bar examinations committee, said they were able to trace the authorship of social media accounts — Bar Law for Dummies Training Program and Tzidkenu Dizon, and have already asked the National Bureau of Investigation to start a probe.
“These social media publications as false, baseless, irresponsible, defamatory, contumacious, detestable, and formulated with apparent intent to erode the integrity of the digitalized Bar examinations,” Hernando said.
“The 2023 Bar Examinations shall be checked by four examiners per subject, all of whom are established experts in their respective fields, and who are by no means created or powered by artificial intelligence,” he added.
AI is the simulation of human intelligence processes by machines, especially computer systems.
“The initial probe commenced by the Office of the 2023 Bar Chair has unveiled the identity of the administrator of both Facebook accounts. The Court is currently undertaking proper measures against the said individual, particularly, the prompt engagement of the National Bureau of Investigation in the conduct of criminal investigation of the nefarious activities and questionable circumstances surrounding this personality,” Hernando said.
The last day of the three-day Bar examinations covered subjects on Criminal Law and Remedial Law in the morning and Legal and Judicial Ethics with Practical Exercises in the afternoon.
The SC earlier said a total of 10,391 examinees took and completed the first two days of the examinations in 14 local testing centers (LTCs) nationwide.
During the last day of the examinations, several SC justices, led by Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo and Hernando, visited the LTCs to personally observe and join about 2,310 Bar personnel in the conduct of the examinations.
The SC said the results of the Bar examinations will be released in early December and the oath-taking and signing of the Rolls of Attorneys will be held before Christmas.
