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Decentralized bar exams eyed to avoid 'bomb-throwing' incidents


To avoid similar crowded situations that could tempt bomb throwers in the future, a lawmaker has proposed decentralizing the examinations for prospective lawyers. Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, author of House Resolution 537, said the Supreme Court should now consider reforms on the conduct of the bar examinations, adding that “we've never had changes since 1907 and since 1913." “During bar exams, less than 30,000 or 40,000 people are in one venue at the same time, it's really a recipe for some unscrupulous people and criminal elements to infiltrate and throw a bomb," Rodriguez said during a news forum in Quezon City. He said the crowd grows beyond the 6,000 bar examinees, because most of the time they accompanied by families, friends, supporters, classmates and fraternity brothers and sisters. He believed the number of examinees and supporters would increase in the coming years with the implementation of multiple-choice examination replacing the essay examination. “If you have that kind of a situation, and we're again in a jampacked and overcrowded venue, again that will be very dangerous, so therefore my proposal is to conduct the bar examination simultaneously [in several cities]," Rodriguez said. He said the examinations can be held in Metro Manila for Luzon examinees, in Cebu for Visayas, and in Cagayan de Oro for Mindanao. The lawmaker said this will decongest the bar exams by reducing the number of people per venue, and will also be a cheaper option for bar examinees from distant parts of the country. “For our constituents in Mindanao and Cagayan de Oro, it's very expensive for them to come to Manila for a review from April to September. That’s a good six months, and you can just see the expense," he said. He added: “Yung sinasabi na nagbebenta kalabaw, totoo yun before coming to Manila (What they say about selling carabaos before coming to Manila, that’s true). These are sons of farmers, workers from Mindanao. They come to Manila, pay for their board and lodging here, and other expenses." Rodriguez further said the Supreme Court can use modern information and communications technology in conducting the examinations. “Instead of giving the examination papers and reading, we flash the questions on the big screen, in the center, front, on the sides, and so when you take the examination, you just look up and answer. That will be a paperless examination," he said. He said by just pushing a button, the questions can be simultaneously seen in Cebu or in Cagayan de Oro. “And the printing is done in front of the students, [so] there will be transparency… These are the things that the SC should start thinking about if you don’t want unruly chaotic situation in the bar exam [in] September next year," Rodriguez said.—JV, GMANews.TV

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