THE Public Safety and Security Command Center (PSSCC) announced on September 11, 2023 that bar examinations in Davao City will be safeguarded by the city’s military and security officials.
Examinations on Political and Public International Law (15 percent) and Commercial and Taxation Laws (20 percent) have been set on September 17; Civil Law (20 percent) and Labor Law and Social Legislation (10 percent) on September 20, and Criminal Law (10 percent) and Remedial Law, Legal and Judicial Ethics with Practical Exercises (25 percent) on September 24.
According to Angel Sumagaysay, deputy head of the PSSCC, they have already checked and inspected the local testing center in Ateneo de Davao University-Senior High School (ADDU-SHS) along McArthur Highway. He also added that supporters are prohibited to gather or group themselves outside the venue of the bar examinations.
On the other hand, PCapt. Hazel Tuazon, spokesperson for the Davao City Police Office (DCPO), said that their agency prepared a security plan for the conduct of bar exams. She added that 274 police officers will be deployed on the first two days of the bar exams and this will be increased to 374 officers on the last day.
In a recent advisory, the city government office said that activities such as salubongs (welcome), send-offs, and other gatherings are not allowed within the vicinity of ADDU-SHS on the exam dates.
“Law enforcement personnel onsite shall strictly enforce this by clearing the area within 70 meters from the perimeter of ADDU-SHS on the aforementioned dates. Violators shall be penalized accordingly,” the memo read.
The city government office also said that there will be no road closures or rerouting in the vicinity of ADDU-SHS but traffic congestion is expected.
“However, kindly expect traffic congestion along the roads near ADDU-SHS, such as the General Douglas McArthur Highway, from 4:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Motorists are advised to take alternate routes,” the advisory stated.
Based on the data, there are 14 examination locations nationwide, but only two are in Mindanao: ADDU-SHS and Xavier University in Cagayan de Oro City.
In July 2023, the Supreme Court (SC) announced that 10,867 law graduates will take the 2023 online and regionalized bar exams.
The 2023 bar exams, chaired by Associate Justice Ramon Hernando, are composed of six core subjects, with two subjects taken per exam date, one in the morning and another in the afternoon. DEF