Judge, lawyers divided on request to hold Bar exams outside Manila

CEBU, Philippines - Regional Trial Court Executive Judge Soliver Peras said holding the Bar examination outside Manila is too expensive.

Though it is an advantage to the barristers coming from Mindanao and Visayas, Peras however said there is still concern to be reconsidered just like number of applicants.

"Considering employees and officials of the Supreme Court were designated to oversee the Bar exam, and if this will be held outside Manila then it will be an additional expenses," Peras told reporters.

The Supreme Court earlier issued a resolution directing the Committee on Bar Examinations to look into the request of the Cebu City Council for the exams to be held in the Visayas or Mindanao.

"The Court resolved, upon the recommendation of the Office of the Bar Confidant, to refer this matter to the Committee on Bar Examinations for consideration," the resolution read signed by SC clerk of court, Atty. Enriqueta Vidal.

The president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines — Cebu City chapter and assistant dean of the School of Law of the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R), lawyer Mae Elaine Bathan, said that for longest time, they have lobbied for Bar examinations to be held in Visayas or in Mindanao.

But for some reason, Bathan said the SC has never granted it.

However, she said with the request of the Cebu City Council, she hopes that the higher court will grant the request.

Likewise, she hopes that the SC will "seriously" consider holding examinations in the Visayas and Mindanao as this will be beneficial to the barristers from the region.

Given the technology, she said holding examinations outside Manila is possible.

Lawyer Joan Largo, dean of the School of Law at the University of San Carlos (USC) said holding Bar exam outside Manila will be beneficial.

"Holding the exam in Cebu will help Bar examinees from law schools outside Manila as it will considerably lessen the physical, financial, psychological, emotional strain that our Bar examinees endure when Bar exams are being held in Manila," her text message to The FREEMAN read. — (FREEMAN)