Republic of the Philippines

Supreme Court
Manila

BAR BULLETIN NO. 39, S. 2022

DISQUALIFICATION OF BAR EXAMINEES

WHO VIOLATED THE HONOR CODE

The Office of the Bar Chairperson congratulates all the Bar examinees who
have successfully finished the 2020/21 Bar Examinations.

For the approximately 219 Bar examinees1 who were unable to take the Bar
Examinations after having tested positive for COVID-19, do not lose hope. Your
time will come.

Unfortunately, a number of examinees who were able to take the Bar

Examinations violated the clearly published policies of the Office of the Bar
Chairperson and their Honor Code.

In the course of the Bar Examinations, the Office of the Bar Chairperson has
received reports of examinees who deliberately entered the local testing centers
without disclosing that they had previously tested positive for COVID-19; who
smuggled mobile phones inside the examination rooms; and who accessed social
media during lunch break inside the premises.

For their infractions, I am exercising my prerogative as Bar Chairperson to

disqualify these examinees, after due process, from the 2020/21 Bar Examinations.

I take my constant message of honor to the examinees seriously. I owe it not

only to those who risked their lives just to make the 2020/21 Bar Examinations
happen despite all odds, but most especially to those examinees who could have
taken the Bar Examinations were it not for their positive COVID-19 test results.

1
This number is based on the Supreme Court-administered antigen tests and on those examinees who have
disclosed to the Office of the Bar Chairperson of their positive COVID-19 result taken from Department of
Health-accredited testing facilities.
 For those who have been disqualified, your disqualification applies only for
the 2020/21 Bar Examinations.

For now, reflect on what you have done, but know that you can still change
your narrative. You will not end up as the examinee who lost your honor forever in
your desperation to pass an examination. Learn from your mistake, and earn your
honor back.

For your information and guidance.

February 6, 2022 (amended February 7, 2022).

MARVIC M.V.F. LEONEN

Associate Justice and
2020/21 Bar Examinations
Chairperson