Nov. 6, 4:27 p.m. – AUTHORITIES tightened security in and around the University as 6,000 examinees trooped to the campus to take the bar examinations today.
The Manila Police District deployed policemen at different areas outside the University, while personnel from the Supreme Court Security Division, Court of Appeals, National Bureau of Investigation, and the UST Security Office took charge inside the campus.
As previously reported, the Supreme Court banned “bar operations”–activities like putting up streamers, holding sendoffs, and forming cheering squads–on campus.
Traffic personnel from the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority and the Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau, assisted by officials of Barangays 401 and 402, directed traffic flow on Lacson Avenue and España Boulevard, whose southbound portion was reduced two lanes to accommodate the crowd.
The Supreme Court had said on its website that all roads surrounding UST would remain open to traffic during the bar exams on four Sundays of November, as ordered by Associate Justice Roberto Abad, chairman of the 2011 committee on bar examinations.
Security Office chief Joseph Badinas said he had added 20 personnel to beef up campus security.
“We [at the UST Security Office] would just follow and support whatever security operations the Supreme Court plans to implement,” Badinas said.
Only bar examinees with notices of admission were allowed to enter the campus. Firearms, cameras, tape recorders, cellphones, and other electrical gadgets were prohibited.
The Main Building, San Martin de Porres Building, Benavides Building, and St. Raymund Peñafort Building were used as exam venues.
All University gates will be closed during the exams except for the P. Noval and Lacson gates to provide access to the Santisimo Rosario Parish Church and the UST Hospital, respectively.
Barricades were placed around the open field, as well the sides of the parish church and the hospital facing the Main Building to prevent people from roaming around the campus.
Also, the Tan Yan Kee Student Center will be closed to students on all Saturdays and Sundays of November for the operations of exam facilitators, according to a memorandum issued by Assistant to the Rector for Student Affairs Evelyn Songco.
More than 6,000 bar applicants are taking the exams this year, 23.26 percent higher than last year’s 5,308.
This morning, exams covered Political and International Law, and Labor and Social Legislation, while the afternoon exam covered Taxation. Rafael L. Antonio
