Aspiring lawyers troop to UST for 2018 Bar Exams

Aspiring lawyers from all over the country trooped to the University of Santo Tomas (UST) along España, Manila on Sunday to take the 2018 Bar Examinations.

A total of 8,701 candidates are expected to take the Bar Examinations this year, which will be held on all four Sundays of November at UST.

The said figure is the highest in recent years, the Supreme Court has said, prompting the police to beef up even more the security around the examination venue.

Hopeful law graduates are sent off by family, friends and schoolmates as they take the 2018 Bar Examinations on Sunday, November 4, 2018 at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila. Some 8,701 examinees will take the grueling examinations on all Sundays of November. Danny Pata

According to National Capital Region Police Office chief Director Guillermo Eleazar, security forces have been deployed around UST as early as 3 a.m. on Sunday.

"We have almost 400 police personnel coming from [Manila Police District] securing the area. It's the perimeter ng UST dito sa España, sa Lacson, sa Dapitan and P. Noval Street. Sa ngayon ay nasa loob na itong mga examinees," Eleazar told Super Radyo dzBB in an interview.

LOOK: NCRPO Chief P/Dir. Guillermo Eleazar, naginspeksyon sa UST kaugnay sa 2018 bar examination @dzbb pic.twitter.com/UqYAfgXey7

— Luisito Santos (@luisitosantos03) November 3, 2018

LOOK: Mahigpit na seguridad ipinatutupad sa labas ng UST kung saan gaganapin ang 2018 Bar examinations @dzbb pic.twitter.com/zA7RqcTFA7

— Luisito Santos (@luisitosantos03) November 3, 2018

Associate Justice Marvic Leonen and National Capital Region Police Office chief Director Guillermo Eleazar inspect the security measures put in place around the University of Santo Tomas in Manila on Sunday, November 4, 2018, during the first day of the 2018 Bar Examinations. Danny Pata

LOOK: K-9 Unit, naka-deploy sa paligid ng UST bilang bahagi ng seguridad sa 2018 Bar examinations. | via @luisitosantos03 pic.twitter.com/NsH40JI7NR

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) November 3, 2018

"Hindi lang police ang nandito, nandito rin ang ibang ahensya na tutulong sa atin. Nandito ang NBI [National Bureau of Investigation], MMDA [Metropolitan Manila Development Authority] pati na rin Coast Guard. They are deputized to ensure the orderly conduct of the Bar Exams," he added.

Around UST, families and friends of the examinees as well as other groups carrying banners are on stand by to show support to the candidates.

LOOK: Mga kaanak at kaibigan ng mga kukuha ng 2018 Bar exam, naghihintay sa tapat ng UST @dzbb pic.twitter.com/XqP5d1eXV9

— Luisito Santos (@luisitosantos03) November 3, 2018

LOOK: Mga kukuha ng 2018 Bar exam, maagang nagpunta sa UST. | via @luisitosantos03 (???? @SCPh_PIO ) pic.twitter.com/wSICEpn972

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) November 3, 2018

Around 40 officials of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) are among this year's Bar examinees, BJMP spokesperson Chief Inspector Xavier Solda said in an interview with Luisito Santos of Super Radyo dzBB.

Aabot sa 40 na opisyal at tauhan ng BJMP ang kumuha ng 2018 bar examination, ayon kay BJMP Spox Jail Chief Insp. Xavier Solda. | via @luisitosantos03 pic.twitter.com/v8x6aQZ9Ek

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) November 4, 2018

LOOK: Ilang tauhan ng BJMP, nagpahayag ng suporta sa mga kasamahan nilang kumukuha ng 2018 bar examination. | via @luisitosantos03 pic.twitter.com/JeGYFkQssm

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) November 4, 2018

Examinees, meanwhile, are prohibited from bringing firearms, smartphones, smartwatches, cameras, voice recorders and other gadgets inside UST.

LOOK: Mga ipinagbabawal dalhin ng bar examinees sa UST @dzbb pic.twitter.com/RbW9FIX6ID

— Luisito Santos (@luisitosantos03) November 3, 2018

Last year, a total of  6,748 law graduates took the Bar Examinations, but only 1,724 of them passed. —Erwin Colcol/KG, GMA News