Tuesday, April 01, 2008
Options open up for policeman-lawyer
PASSING the Bar exams opened up several career options for SPO1 Julius Ompad.
Cebu City Police Office Director Patrocinio Comendador said that Ompad may join other government agencies or may opt to stay in the police service, like the other police officers who also became lawyers.
Ompad’s passing the exams qualifies him to apply for lateral entry, where he will be promoted to the rank of senior inspector.
Comendador, who was among the first persons to congratulate Ompad last Saturday, said he was happy to learn about Ompad’s feat.
He said he already ordered a streamer to be put up for Ompad. The streamer will be displayed at the entrance gate of the Cebu City Police Office’s Camp Sotero Cabahug along Gorordo Ave.
Persistence
Comendador appreciated the perseverance of Ompad, whose will to become a lawyer never faltered even if he had to take the test seven times in 12 years.
Ompad, now in his early 40’s, first took the test in 1995. He tried again in 1997 and 1998.
He took a refresher course before tackling the Bar in 2000. He then went back to school and again took the law course’s fourth year curriculum.
He faced the Bar for the fifth time in 2002, and fell short again in 2004.
No longer sure if he was still qualified to take another test after that, Ompad inquired from the Supreme Court. He was told he still qualifies, provided that he takes another refresher course, which he also did.
After he finished the refresher course, Ompad enrolled in a university for review classes, but dropped out due to financial constraints.
He decided not to take the 2006 Bar exam before braving it again last year. He was among the 1,289 who passed out of 5,626 takers.
Because of his achievement, Comendador said, he is giving Ompad the chance to pick his next assignment.
Ompad is presently designated as chief investigator of the Waterfront Police Station.
The new lawyer, in an earlier interview with Sun.Star Cebu, said he would still consult with his wife what to do next after passing the exams. (JST)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (April 31, 2008 issue)
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