Bar exam passers invited to join gov’t, urged to uphold integrity

MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang on Friday urged the 1,800 bar passers to uphold the integrity of the law profession as they start their careers as lawyers.

In statement, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo, a University of the Philippines law graduate, congratulated the new lawyers  “as they celebrate and savor one of the most joyous moments of their lives after days of anxiety and apprehension.”

“As they prepare to take their oaths and sign in the roll of attorneys, we urge them to inculcate in their minds that integrity is the highest in the hierarchy of virtues in the legal profession,” he said.

He said the Palace was hoping many of the bar passers would join the government.

“We hope that many of our country’s new lawyers consider pursuing a career in the government and help build a progressive and peaceful nation that will provide a comfortable life for all,” he said.

“Their youth, idealism, academic competence and personal integrity are welcome under the present administration, and should be in succeeding administrations as well,” he said.

Panelo also lauded parents of the bar passers “who provided the means for these new lawyers to graduate from law schools, for the sacrifices as they toiled to shepherd these new gladiators of law.”

“We wish the successful examinees all the best as they begin to pursue a path that is exciting as it is rewarding even if at times perilous,” he said.

Panelo said “learning the law is a never ending process.”

“Its practice is faced with endless challenges and a constant wrestling with conscience as we ought to remove our partisanship, personal feelings and biases as well as prejudices when a question of law or a case subject of litigation is thrown to our lap for the application of the letter and spirit of the law,” he said. /gsg