Chief Justice Gesmundo rejects proposed abolition of Bar exams

Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo on Thursday said he is against the abolition of the Bar exams, as proposed by Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III.

“I don’t see the need to abolish the Bar exam. We must continue having the Bar exam,” Gesmundo said in an ambush interview at an event in Manila.

“I respect the view of Secretary Bello but as far as the practice of law, I think we should maintain the Bar examinations so that we can sift those who are competent, considering the nature of the legal profession,” he added.

“The legal profession is vested with public interest.”

Gesmundo stressed the need to ensure that only those competent should be allowed to enter the legal profession.

“Aside from the tradition, it is important that we make sure that those who join the legal profession are competent, that they can perform their duties as lawyers, not only to the court but also to their clients and to society as a whole,” he said.

“So the qualifying exam for legal professionals should be therein continued.”

Gesmundo said the legal basis for the mandatory taking of Bar exams for those who want to become lawyers is included in the Rules of Court.

Bello on Wednesday floated the idea of doing away with licensure exams for nurses and lawyers, among others, due to the high financial costs of studying and taking the boards.

He argued that as long as a student graduated from an institution accredited by the Commission on Higher Education, there should be no need for licensure exams.

The Philippine Nurses Association (PNA) also rejected Bello's proposal.   —KBK, GMA News