Police beef up security in UST for bar exams

The University of Santo Tomas campus in Manila will be the venue of the bar examinations for the sixth straight year. FILE PHOTO

Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada has ordered the city police to tighten security at the University of Santo Tomas (UST) where the 2016 bar examinations will be held on the four Sundays of November.

READ: 2016 bar exams schedule out

“We will utilize all our available law enforcement and protective units to ensure the orderly and peaceful conduct of the (bar) examinations. We can’t let any untoward incidents to happen again,” Estrada said in a statement, adding that he doesn’t want a repeat of the 2010 bar exam bombing at De La Salle University that injured 47 people.

Estrada tasked Manila Police District director Senior Supt. Joel Coronel to deploy policemen around the campus and rescue units to place paramedics and ambulances on school grounds during the examinations.

Coronel said UST’s whole perimeter—España Boulevard, Lacson Avenue, Dapitan and P. Noval streets—will be “closely guarded” during the four Sundays.

“We will be deploying round-the-clock patrol and police visibility in the area, especially on the first Sunday where we expect a lot of people will be proceeding to the area,” the MPD chief said.

As in previous years, the ban on sale, use, or distribution of liquor within 100 meters of the examination venue will also be imposed, Coronel added.

READ: Liquor ban, ipatutupad sa paligid ng UST sa panahon ng bar exams

“That liquor ban takes effect the night before the bar exams and until the midnight the following day. This is to prevent previous occasions where there are members of fraternities, organizations, and other associations who will be drinking along the streets during the exam,” he said.

UST is hosting the bar exams for the sixth straight year. IDL