University of San Carlos has reinforced its status as one of the country’s top law schools when four of its students made it into the Top 10 of the 2016 Bar examinations, including topnotcher Karen Mae Calam.
Calam scored 89.05 percent to lead three other USC graduates in the elite roster. They are Fiona Cristy Lao (third, 88.95 percent), Ann Margaret Momongan (seventh, 87.80 percent), and Jefferson Gomez (eighth, 87.70 percent).
USC law dean Joan Largo said all their 68 Bar examinees passed, the first time the Cebu-based school achieved it.
“It’s a tribute to the hard work they put in,” said Largo, also a USC alumnus.
USC has an average of 500 law students per semester, according to Largo.
Curiously, not a single school from Metro Manila made it to the elite roster.
Silliman University had three top-notchers, including second placer Alanna Gayle Ashley Khio who scored 88.95 percent. The others are Marie Chielo Ybio (ninth, 87.50 percent) and Andrew Stephen Liu (10th, 87.45 percent).
Athalia Liong of Andres Bonifacio College took third spot with 88.80 percent.
The other topnotchers are:
Allana Mae Babayen-on of the University of San Agustin (fourth, 88.75 percent), Justin Ryan Morilla of Ateneo de Davao (fifth, 88.40 percent), Mark Dave Camarao of Northwestern University (sixth, 88.10 percent), and Nia Rachelle Gonzales of University of Batangas (ninth, 87.50 percent).
A total of 59.06 percent or 3,747 of 6,344 law graduates who took the examinations passed the tests, according to the Supreme Court (SC).
Justice Presbitero J. Velasco Jr., chairperson of the 2016 Bar examinations committee, said the number of 2016 successful Bar examinees is much higher than the 2015 examinations where 26.21 per cent or 1,731 of 6,605 examinees passed the tests.
Velasco said the oathtaking of the new lawyers will be held on May 22 starting at 3 p.m. at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. Registration will start at 11 a.m.
Lawyer Christina Layusa, SC’s Bar confidant, said clearances for the new lawyers will be issued starting May 8 until May 21. (REY PANALIGAN)