235 pass 2026 Shari'ah Special Bar Exams — SC

A total of 235 out of 796 examinees, or 29.52%, passed the 2026 Shari'ah Special Bar Examinations held on May 24 and 27, the Supreme Court (SC) announced on Wednesday.

Ahmad Nuska Bato and Van Regine Lim Perlas topped the examinations after both earned a rating of 89.1500%.

Rounding out the top 10 are:

2nd – Cairah Abdul Azis Cairodin
3rd – Michelle Lovely Carl Saludsod Go
4th – Hanna Nazria Sambitory Macapintal
5th – Sittie Ayesah Djulaida Arindig Escander
6th – Mohammad Muktadir Ahmad Estrella
7th – Hanna-Tunisia Fatima Usman
8th – Rauda Ismael Salisa
9th – Alpha Carole Onrubia Pontanal
10th – Salahudden Saripada Misbah

"The Shari’ah Special Bar Examinations occupy a unique place in our legal system. They help ensure that the administration of justice remains responsive to the needs of Muslim Filipinos while strengthening the integration of the Shari’ah justice system within our broader legal framework," said Supreme Court Associate Justice Henri Jean Paul Inting, chairperson of the 2026 Shari’ah Special Bar Examinations.

"Through these examinations, we ensure that communities are served by competent, ethical, and well-trained Shari’ah counselors-at-law who are prepared to uphold the law, advance justice, and serve with integrity," he added.

Inting said 536 of the 796 examinees were first-time takers, while 260 were repeat examinees.

The examinations were conducted at New Era University, Ateneo de Davao University, Ateneo de Zamboanga University, and the Mindanao State University–Iligan Institute of Technology.

Some examinees took the examinations in English, while others opted to take them in Arabic.

The examinations covered Jurisprudence (Fiqh) and Customary Laws (Adat); Persons, Family Relations, and Property; Succession, Wills, Adjudication, and Settlement of Estates; and Procedure in the Shari’ah Courts. — VBL, GMA News