MANILA – The Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday announced the names of 3,812 successful examinees in the 2023 bar exams which saw a 36.77 percent passing rate.
Ephraim Porciuncula Bie of the University of Santo Tomas (UST) obtained the highest mark of 89.2625-percent score among the 10,387 examinees. Another UST alumnus, Pio Buencamino tied for 8th place with Paulo Batulan of the University of San Jose-Recoletos.
Other schools whose graduates landed in the top 10 were Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU)'s Mark Josel Padua (2nd Place) and Bryan Gerard Tapnio Antonio (7th place); San Beda University's Frances Francisco (3rd); Dela Salle University (DLSU Manila)'s David Flores (5th place); and University of the Philippines (UP)'s Ralph Samaniego (6th place).
Two students from the Aquinas Campus of the University of Sto. Tomas in Legaspi City -- Nathaniel Tang and Zes Non placed 4th and 10th place, respectively.
The University of San Jose Recoletos's Paulo Batulan placed 8th; Angeles University Foundation School of Law's Grace Bautista placed 9th, while Saint Paul School of Professional Studies Jayson Chan also placed in 10th place alongside Non.
UP students also clinched the 13th,15th,16th and 17th highest marks.
ADMU was the top performer among 13 law schools which fielded more than 100 candidates with a 94.08 percent passing rate or 159 passers out of 169 takers; followed by San Beda with 92.20 percent (130 passers, 141 takers); USC (90.915%,170 passers, 187 takers );UP (89.45%, 229 passers, 256 takers); and UST (85.25% with 104 passers out of 122 takers).
The SC said 140 schools had candidates who completed the bar exams and 130 schools had hopefuls passing the exams.
This year's exams are the third time conducted on multiple sites and done digitally instead of the traditional pen and paper. The exams were chaired by Associate Justice Ramon Paul Hernando. (PNA)
