Not enough bar examinees in Cebu

Retired Court of Appeals Justice Portia Hormachuelos (CDN PHOTO / JUNJIE MENDOZA)

THERE won’t be enough bar examinees from the Visayas and Mindanao this year, but law school deans have not given up on their bid to decentralize the examinations and hold one in Cebu.

Retired Associate Justice Portia Hormachuelos, dean of the University of the Visayas’ College of Law, said only 515 law graduates have signified intent to take this year’s bar examinations in Cebu.

At least 1,000 examinees are required to hold the examinations in Cebu.

Hormachuelos said Supreme Court Associate Justice Presbitero Velasco Jr., chairperson of the 2016 Bar Exams, has not turned down their request.

“He said options are open. He was actually sympathetic to us. But he said it will all be up to the SC en banc,” she said in a press conference at the UV canteen.

Hormachuelos said all school deans in the country met with Velasco on Thursday at the Court of Appeals auditorium in Manila.

“We conveyed to Justice Velasco that although there are only 515 individuals who are willing to take the bar exams in Cebu, we feel that is sufficient to test whether holding the bar exams in Cebu is feasible,” she said.

She said they will continue to look for other law graduates who are willing to take the bar exams in Cebu City.

“I hope the Bar Exams will be held in Cebu soon. Cebu City has been the venue of almost all professional licensure exams. Why can’t we do that for the bar exams?” Hormachuelos said.

The bar examinations are usually held for four Sundays in November.

“For 104 years, the bar exams have been held in Manila. Examinees from Cebu and other provinces have to spend about P100,000 to take the exams in Manila. If it will be done in Cebu, there’s a possibility that they will spend just P10,000 to P20,000,” Hormachuelos said.