(Bar exam hopefuls being cheered by their comrades during the “Salubong.” Photo by Alvin Joseph Kasiban)
November 30, 2015, 12:48p.m. – THE 2015 Bar Examinations in UST ended without incident save for a “minor disturbance” on the last day of the tests last Nov. 29, police said.
“Generally peaceful [‘yung four Sundays], wala naman tayong nakasuhan doon. Walang street crimes committed noong duration ng Bar exams,” Supt. Mannan Maurip of the Sampaloc Police Station told the Varsitarian.
In the afternoon of Nov. 29, a bag thrown in the middle of the crowd on España Boulevard triggered a frenzy and toppled the barriers. A party popper went off.
This prompted security officials led by Chief Supt. Rolando Nana of the Manila Police District to recommend a ban on party poppers in the next Bar exams.
“[Ire-recommend natin sa Supreme Court (SC)] na pagbawalan ‘yung paggamit ng party poppers para hindi maulit ‘yung pangyayari,” Nana told reporters, adding everything went “back to normal” after the incident.
A total of 7,146 Bar hopefuls applied to take the exam, the most in the last four years after 5,987 examinees in 2011, 5,686 in 2012, 5,593 in 2013, and 6,344 takers in 2014. This year, 49 examinees hailed from UST.
More then 200 security personnel, some from the Philippine National Police, were deployed to secure the campus on the last day. This was an increase of 80 from the first day last Nov. 9.
The southbound lane of España Boulevard in front of UST was closed to motorists to give way to the “Salubong,” where different universities and fraternities gathered to show support to their examinees.
Some of the universities that participated were Polytechnic University of the Philippines, San Beda College, Ateneo de Manila, University of the Cordilleras, University of Mindanao and UST.
For the first time, authorities designated separate waiting areas to avoid friction between rival schools.
The 114th bar examinations is headed by Associate Justice Teresita de Castro. Results are expected by March or April next year.
This year marks the fifth consecutive time UST has hosted the bar exams. Kathryn Jedi V. Baylon and Clarence I. Hormachuelos
