The Supreme Court will lead in the oath-taking of 949 new officers of the court who passed the 2012 Bar Examinations on Wednesday, April 24.
SC Associate Justice Martin Villarama Jr., head of the committee on the bar examinations, is among the justices expected to attend the special en banc session of the Supreme Court at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City.
“Bar examiners Solicitor General Francis Jardeleza (Political and Public International Law), Court of Appeals (CA) Presiding Justice Andres Reyes Jr. (Labor and Social Legislation), Atty. Jesus Manalastas (Civil Law), Atty. Victorino Mamalateo (Taxation), Atty. Lily Gruba (Mercantile Law), Judge Thelma Allena-Ponferrada (Criminal Law), Sandiganbayan Justice Rafael Lagos (Remedial Law), and CA Justice Manuel Barrios (Legal Ethics and Practical Exercises) are also expected to grace the event,” the Philippine Star reports.
Bar passers are required to wear their toga to the ceremony, with gowns available for rent at P250 each. They are also expected to have been cleared by the Office of the Bar Confidant.
The Office of the Bar Confidant began processing the clearances of bar passers on April 1 and stopped doing so on Tuesday. Successful bar examinees were made to pay P4,300 for the Oath-Taking Ceremonies, P3,000 as a bar admission fee and another P100 as a certification fee. They also had to pay P1,200 to the Integrated Bar of the Philippines.
