Exams will not be readministered

MANILA - The Supreme Court (SC) has denied rumors of a leak in two subjects in the 2016 Bar Examinations, and called on the public to refrain from spreading such rumors so as "not to add more stress and anxiety to the examinees."

In a statement read by SC Public Information Office (PIO) chief, Atty. Theodore Te, 2016 Bar Examinations Chairperson SC Associate Justice Presbitero Velasco, Jr. debunked rumors circulating in social media of an alleged leak in Commercial Law and Criminal Law.

"The attention of the Chairperson for the 2016 Bar Examinations has been drawn to allegations posted on social media platforms that the questions for the Commercial Law and Criminal Law exams were leaked. The Office of the Bar Chairperson has investigated the matter and has come to the conclusion that the questions remained confidential before the scheduled exams.

"The findings show that there is no truth to any of these unsubstantiated social media rumors," Velasco said.

Velasco also denied rumors that the exams for these two subjects will be re-administered.

"Similarly false are reports that the Supreme Court en banc, with the deans of the different law schools, is considering the cancellation of this year's Bar Examinations or the re-administration of the affected subjects. There is no iota of truth to these statements.

"These unfounded reports that are being irresponsibly circulated in social media only undermine the efforts of the Bar Chairperson to safeguard the confidentiality and integrity of the Bar Exams," Velasco said.

The magistrate called on the public to extend their help so as "not to add more stress and anxiety to the examinees," and also asked their fellow lawyers, the academe, and the examinees themselves "to be vigilant of such reports and instead work for the success of the exams," Velasco said.

The Commercial Law and Criminal Law exams were held last Sunday. A total of 6,831 law students have qualified with all requisites to take this year's exams.

This year's bar exams began last November 6, and will end on November 27.

The four-Sunday exams are held at the University of Santo Tomas (UST).