THE Bar exams, the most grueling tests for aspiring lawyers, ended on Sunday with the numbers of Bar takers going down from 7,227 on the first Sunday to 6,750 before the last day of testing.
Data from the Supreme Court Office of the Bar Confidant showed that 468 candidates were absent on the first tests Sunday and nine more failed to appear on the second and third Sundays of examinations.
The high court has not released the final number of examinees who completed the eight-subject exams as of press time.
Meanwhile, a silent protest against the 180-degree policy shift of the Duterte administration on the communist movement in the country also marked the last Sunday of the Bar examinations.
As the Bar examinees went out of the University of Santo Tomas in Manila after completing the four-Sunday exams, members of the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers held placards criticizing the impending arrests of the communist leaders for alleged conspiracy to commit rebellion or terrorism under the Human Security Act after President Rodrigo Duterte officially ended the peace talks with the Communist Party of the Philippines.
The group described the Duterte administration as a “looming tyranny.”
‘‘The threat to arrest and file criminal charges against members of legitimate people’s organizations which this government has branded as ‘legal fronts’ of the CCP, reeks of Marcosian rule. It is clearer than broad daylight, President Duterte is laying the ground for his impending tyrannical rule in response to the indisputably growing social unrest, NUPL secretary-general Ephraim Cortez said.
The lawyers group warned the public to remain critical and vigilant as the threat of arrests could extend not only to the members of militant organizations but to all government critics as well.
‘‘This is based on historical and contemporary experience. When the President launched his all-out war against drugs, the extra-judicial killing spree claimed the lives of even innocent people and bystanders, women and children included, Cortez said.
The Bar examinations cover eight law subjects: Civil Law, Criminal Law, Labor Law, Legal Ethics and Practical Exercises, Mercantile Law, Political Law, Taxation and Remedial Law.
This year’s Bar exams committee chairman was Associate Justice Lucas Bersamin.
The high court also announced that next year’s Bar exams committee chairman will be Associate Justice Mariano del Castillo.
As in the previous years, the Manila local government and police implemented security measures for the Bar exams.
A liquor ban is imposed within the 100-meter radius of UST and a “no parking” policy is implemented along España and Dapitan Streets during the conduct of the exams.
“No tent and tarpaulins” and “no loud music” policies at the vicinity of the venue were also imposed.
Medical personnel were also deployed for emergency situations.
Additional security measures were put in place since the grenade explosion that marred the September 2010 Bar exams in De La Salle University in Manila.
In the past three years, the examinees were required to use transparent or see-through bags for convenience and security.
In the 2013 Bar exams, the high court reverted back to its previous format, which was predominantly essay-type. They consisted of 80 percent essay-type questions and 20 percent multiple-choice questions.