Leonen disqualifies some Bar examinees for violating Honor Code

MANILA, Philippines — Supreme Court Associate Justice and 2020/21 Bar Examinations chairperson Marvic Leonen has disqualified a number of Bar examinees who violated the Honor Code.

READ: #BestBarEver: Finally, Bar exams held despite COVID

In a Bar bulletin released Sunday, Leonen said that the disqualification was his prerogative as Bar chairperson.

“Unfortunately, a number of examinees who were able to take the Bar Examinations violated the clearly published policies of the Office of the Bar Chairperson and their Honor Code,” he stated in the bulletin.

“In the course of the Bar Examinations, the Office of the Bar Chairperson has received reports of examinees who deliberately entered the local testing centers without disclosing that they had previously tested positive for COVID-19; who smuggled mobile phones inside the examination rooms; and who accessed social media during lunch break inside the premises,” he added.

“For their infractions, I am exercising my prerogative as Bar Chairperson to disqualify these examinees from the 2020/21 Bar Examinations,” he went on.

Leonen said that the disqualification only applies for the recent examinations.

“I take my constant message of honor to the examinees seriously. I owe it not only to those who risked their lives just to make the 2020/21 Bar Examinations happen despite all odds, but most especially to those examinees who could have taken the Bar Examinations were it not for their positive COVID-19 test results,” the associate justice said.

“For those who have been disqualified, your disqualification applies only for the 2020/21 Bar Examinations,” he continued.

Leonen called on the disqualified examinees to reflect on their actions.

“For now, reflect on what you have done, but know that you can still change your narrative. You will not end up as the examinee who lost your honor forever in your desperation to pass an examination. Learn from your mistake, and earn your honor back,” he said.

READ: About 96 percent of examinees attend Day 1 of 2020/2021 bar exams

Meanwhile, Leonen’s office congratulated all examinees who have successfully finished the 2020/21 Bar Examinations.

“The Office of the Bar Chairperson congratulates all the Bar examinees who have successfully finished the 2020/21 Bar Examinations,” he said.

Leonen then encouraged those who failed to take the examinations due to COVID-19 infection to not lose hope.

“For the approximately 219 Bar examinees who were unable to take the Bar Examinations after having tested positive for COVID-19, do not lose hope. Your time will come,” he said.

In a separate post, Leonen stressed that they are taking the Honor Code “seriously.”

“We take the honor code very seriously especially for those wanting to be lawyers. This is also to honor the sacrifices of many of those who waited to take the exam and followed all guidelines,” he said on Twitter.

We take the honor code very seriously especially for those wanting to be lawyers.

This is also to honor the sacrifices of many of those who waited to take the exam and followed all guidelines.#BestBarEver2020_21 https://t.co/LqFa5C6CRM

— Marvic Leonen — maroon check (@marvicleonen) February 6, 2022

je