MANILA -- A total of 1,451 out of the 5,903 examinees from 108 law schools nationwide passed the 2009 Bar examinations, according to a report by the Supreme Court on Friday.
The results will be released around 6 p.m. on Friday.
Justice Antonio Eduardo B. Nachura, chair of the 2009 Committee on Bar Examinations, disclosed that the number of those who passed represented 24.58 percent of the total examinees. The exams were administered through Deputy Clerk of Court and Bar Confidant lawyer Ma. Cristina B. Layusa.
For the 2009 Bar exams, Justice Nachura said that the passing rate was lowered from 75 to 71 percent, while the disqualification grade in Taxation has been lowered from 49 to 45 percent.
Justice Nachura announced that the examiners are Sixto S. Brillantes Jr. and Jeremy I. Gatdula (Political and International Law); Court of Appeals (CA) Justice Vicente S.E. Veloso and Pablo R. Cruz (Labor and Social Legislation); retired Justice Alicia V. Sempio-Diy and retired Court Administrator Zenaida N. Elepaño (Civil Law); Court of Tax Appeals (CTA) Presiding Justice Ernesto D. Acosta and Edwin R. Abella (Taxation); CA Justice Ramon Paul L. Hernando and Hector Danny D. Uy (Mercantile Law); Sandiganbayan Justice Edilberto G. Sandoval and CA Justice Mario V. Lopez (Criminal Law); Sandiganbayan Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo and CA Justice Magdangal M. De Leon (Remedial Law); and Sandiganbayan Justice Samuel R. Martires and CA Justice Noel G. Tijam (Legal Ethics and Practical Exercises).
The list of successful Bar examinees simultaneously will be shown on three LCD monitors strategically set up at the SC front yard and can simultaneously be viewed at www.sc.judiciary.gov.ph, the official website of the Supreme Court.
The SC report said the highest passing rate in the last decade was posted in 2001 with 32.89 percent, while the lowest was in 2002 with 19.68 percent. The highest passing percentage of all time though in 1954 with 75.17 percent, while the lowest was in 1999 with 16.59 percent.
The 2009 Bar Examinations were held on September 6, 13, and 20; and October 4, 2009 at the De La Salle University in Taft Avenue, Manila. (Sunnex)