Philippines welcomes 1,800 new lawyers

MANILA, Philippines (Update 3, 4:57 p.m.) — The Philippines on Friday gained 1,800 new lawyers.

The 2018 Bar Exams, which drew the highest number of bar hopefuls to date, posted a passing rate of 22.07%.

#Bar2018 Chair Associate Justice Mariano del Castillo confirms: 1,800 passed the bar exams, yielding a 22.07% passing rate. @PhilstarNews pic.twitter.com/wmE7WEwZD2

— Kristine Patag (@kristinepatag) May 3, 2019

Supreme Court Associate Justice Mariano del Castillo, chairperson of the Bar exams committee, led the announcement of the 2018 Bar Passers at the SC front yard in Padre Faura in Manila.

This was after SC justices held a special en banc session to deliberate on the results.

Initially, 8,701 law graduates were allowed to take the Bar, but more than 500 failed to show up on the first of four Sundays in November 2018 when exams were held.

Only 8,158 examinees appeared on the first day of the examinations. Two more were absent on the succeeding Sundays of the exam, while another one dropped out on the last Bar Sunday.

The exams covered eight subjects: Political Law and Labor Law, Civil Law and Taxation, Mercantile Law and Criminal Law, Remedial Law and Legal Ethics and Practical Exercises.

The 1,800 Bar passers will still need to take their oath and sign the Roll of Attorneys.

Last year, the country welcomed 1,724 new lawyers, posting a 25.5% passing rate.

Oathtaking on June 13

Del Castillo, in his opening message, said that the successful Bar passers will take their oath on June 13, 2:00 p.m. at the Philippine International Convention Center.

Signing of the Roll of Attorneys will start on June 13.

The SC PIO also said: “#Bar2018 passers may secure their clearances from the OBC from May 7 to June 11, 2019. Please prepare a total amount of ?6,050 (?3,850 for oath fees and ?2,200 for IBP dues, including building fund). Please bring 3 valid IDs (1 for security; 2 for presentation to the OBC).”

The SC also named the 2018 Bar examiners. They are:

• Carlo Cruz, for political and public international law
• Hans Leo Cacdac for labor law and social legislation
• Ma. Ngina Teresa Chan-Gonzaga for civil law
• Carlos Baniqued for taxation
• Cesar Villanueva for mercantile law
• Edgardo Cruz for criminal law
• Tranquil Salvador III for remedial law
• Regina Geraldez for legal ethics and practical exercises