Police: 1st day of Bar exams at UST peaceful

The police on Monday described as peaceful the first day of this year's Bar examinations held at the University of Santo Tomas (UST) in Manila on Sunday. The Manila Police District (MPD) said a tight security was imposed in the area during the examinations, radio dzBB reported early Monday. Some 6,000 law graduates are taking this year's Bar exams in all four Sundays of this month. Earlier the Supreme Court (SC) has banned festive celebrations that are part of traditional "Bar operations" (Bar ops) around the venue of the scheduled exams for law graduates next month. "Bar operations, such as setting up of streamers, sendoffs, and cheering squads, are banned within the vicinity of the University of Santo Tomas, the venue of the 2011 Bar examinations during November 6, 13, 20, and 27," the SC said in a statement. Court spokesperson Midas Marquez earlier said the transfer of venue had nothing to do with the Sept. 26, 2010 post-Bar exams blast in front of the De La Salle University (DLSU) campus, the former venue of the exams, where about 42 people were injured. One victim, law student Raissa Laurel, lost her legs in the explosion. - VVP, GMA News