Corona: 2011 Bar exams will no longer be held in DLSU

The Bar examinations next year will no longer be held at the De La Salle University (DLSU) campus in Manila, Supreme Court (SC) Chief Justice Renato Corona said on Monday. Corona said even before a grenade exploded outside the DLSU campus on September 26, the university no longer wanted to serve as the venue for the Bar exams next year. "I think we'll really change the venue because La Salle does not want to renew the lease anymore. Even before the Bar exams (this year), La Salle told us they're not going to renew," Corona told reporters. He added that the possible venues include the University of Santo Tomas, the Adamson University and the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC), all in Manila. The chief justice said the court en banc will decide where to transfer next year's exams, which will be chaired by Associate Justice Roberto Abad. The Bar examinations were previously held at the Manuel L. Quezon University and the University of the East, added Corona. He likewise said personally, he wants to discontinue the traditional Salubong, the post-Bar exams revelry greeting the examinees after finishing the test. It was during the September 26 Salubong when still the unidentified suspect or suspects lobbed a grenade to a crowd of well-wishers. About 47 were hurt, including San Sebastian College law student Raissa Laurel, who lost her legs. The Supreme Court has formed an eight-member panel to complement the investigations conducted by the Manila Police District and the National Bureau of Investigation. The SC-formed committee, chaired by Associate Justice Martin Villarama Jr., was holding the proceedings as of posting time. Corona also welcomed the cash rewards offered by the Ateneo- law school- based Fraternal Order of Utopia (P200,000) and an anonymous group of businessmen (P1 million). He likewise criticized the perpetrators of the explosion as "soul-less." "To me, anything that will help sovle it is good because (the incident) is a totally senseless thing. I think ang gumawa nun ay walang kaluluwa. Alam niya maraming mamamatay dun and yet nagpasabog siya ng granada (the one who was behind that has no soul. He knew a lot are going to die and yet, he lobbed the explosive)," said Corona. — RSJ/VVP, GMANews.TV