Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Thursday urged the 2,103 new lawyers to be adept at applying the laws governing computer-generated crimes to effectively handle cybercrimes.
The cybercrime offenses punishable in the Philippines include online libel, online scams, and online sex trafficking including child pornography.
“In this day and age, human interactions are carried on to a large extent with the use of high technology,” Guevarra said in a text message.
“All new lawyers should be equipped to tread on this new landscape, where the environment for many human activities has become a virtual reality.”
Guevarra made his statement after the Supreme Court on Wednesday released the results of the 2019 Bar Exams, and then announced it had lowered the passing mark to 74 percent from 75 to accommodate more young lawyers because of the need for more tech-savvy lawyers.
Senior Associate Justice Estela Perlas-Bernabe, head of the Committee on the 2019 Bar Examinations, said the high court decided to lower the passing rate to have more new lawyers who were knowledgeable about cybercrimes.
Out of the 7,685 candidates who completed the Bar Examinations last year, 2,103 passed and are now a step closer to becoming lawyers.
Support the frontliners
Lawmakers on Thursday called on the new lawyers to help fight the discrimination against COVID-19 frontliners.
Rizal Rep. Fidel Nograles, a lawyer, reminded the Bar passers to uphold the people’s rights once they entered the legal profession.
“We need lawyers to go to bat for our heroes who are risking life and limb to protect us from the threat of the pandemic,” Nograles said.
“These groups are undermanned and would benefit from the energy and fresh ideas of younger lawyers.”
Representatives Ron Salo of the Kabayan Party-list and Lawrence Fortun of Agusan del Norte, both lawyers, echoed Nograles.
“We must seek the truth and serve justice,” Salo said.
“I ask our new lawyers to be advocates of truth and justice because these will guide us through the darkness and cast a piercing light on anyone who abuse power,” Fortun said.