Lawyers should be morally grounded, says Justice Lopez

Supreme Court (SC) Associate Justice Mario V. Lopez, chairperson of the 2024 Bar Examinations, congratulated the 3,942 successful Bar examinees during their oath-taking and roll-signing ceremonies held at the SMX Convention Center over the weekend.

“Today, you are required to make a solemn pledge that you will become morally competent lawyers,” Justice Lopez emphasized, addressing the new members of the Philippine Bar.

He reminded the Bar passers that the lawyer’s oath is not merely symbolic or ceremonial.

“A lawyer’s oath intersects with core legal ethics questions. Thus, what is included in the oath and the CPRA [Code of Professional Responsibility and Accountability] deserve our attention,” he said.

The SC en banc, through Clerk of Court en banc Atty. Marife M. Lomibao-Cuevas, administered the oath to the successful 2024 Bar candidates.

The event officially welcomed 3,942 out of the 3,962 passers into the Philippine Bar.

Justice Lopez extended his gratitude to the examiners of the six Bar subjects.

For Political and Public International Law, the examiners were Dean Hilario Justino F. Morales, Atty. Adonis Gabriel, Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Gener M. Gito and Atty. Bong Lopez.

Institutions recognized

For Commercial and Taxation Laws, the examiners included Atty. Solomon M. Hermosura, Atty. Zarah R. Villanueva-Castro, Court of Tax Appeals Associate Justice Marian Ivy F. Reyes-Fajardo, and Court of Appeals (CA) Associate Justice John Z. Lee.

Civil Law was handled by Atty. Crisostomo A. Uribe, Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Maria Theresa V. Mendoza-Arcega, Atty. Elmer Rabuya, and CA Associate Justice Geraldine C. Fiel-Macaraig.

Labor Law and Social Legislation examiners were Usec. Filemon Ray Javier, Atty. Raul Paras, Atty. Imelda Abadilla-Brown, and CA Associate Justice Florencio M. Mamauag Jr.

For Criminal Law, the panel consisted of Atty. Marie Melanie B. Trinidad, Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Bernelito R. Fernandez, Atty. Dan P. Calica and Atty. Dean Ace A. Pamaran.

Lastly, the Remedial Law and Legal Ethics examiners were Dean Maria Concepcion Noche, CA Justice Zenaida T. Galapate-Laguilles, Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Ma. Theresa Dolores C. Gomez-Estoesta and CA Associate Justice Edgardo A. Camello (ret.).

Justice Lopez also recognized the institutions that served as national headquarters and local testing centers.

In the National Capital Region, the testing centers were the University of the Philippines in Quezon City, University of Santo Tomas, San Beda University, Manila Adventist College, University of the Philippines-Bonifacio Global City and San Beda College Alabang.

For Luzon, the centers were Saint Louis University in Baguio City and the University of Nueva Caceres in Naga City.

In the Visayas, the testing centers included the University of San Jose-Recoletos in Cebu City, Central Philippine University in Iloilo City, and the Dr. V. Orestes Romualdez Educational Foundation in Tacloban City.

In Mindanao, Xavier University in Cagayan de Oro City and Ateneo de Davao University in Davao City served as testing venues.

SC Associate Justice Amy C. Lazaro-Javier, chairperson of the 2025 Bar Examinations, encouraged the new lawyers to be humane practitioners.

She reminded them, “Being a lawyer is not all about the title. Being called an ‘attorney’ should not be all that ever defines you as a person. It should not be the title that defines the person but the person who must define the title. More than being called ‘attorney,’ the essence of being a lawyer is being a good person.”

Associate Justice Rodil V. Zalameda led the invocation, offering gratitude for the wisdom, strength, and perseverance of the Bar passers. He also prayed for those who did not succeed, urging them to see the moment as an opportunity for growth and renewed determination.