THE SUPREME Court on Sunday disqualified some Bar examinees for violating the policies laid down by the Office of the Bar Chairperson and the honor code.

Associate Justice Marvic Leonen revealed that some examinees entered testing centers without declaring that they had been infected with Covid19, smuggled mobile phones inside the examination rooms and accessed social media during lunch break inside the premises.

“For their infractions, I am exercising my prerogative as Bar Chairperson to disqualify these examinees from the 2020/21 Bar examinations,” Leonen said.

“I take my constant message of honor to the examinees seriously. I owe it not only to those who risked their lives just to make the 2020/2021 happen despite all odds, but most especially to those examinees who could have taken the Bar examinations were it not for their positive Covid19 test results,” he added.

Leonen, however, did not disclose how many examinees were disqualified.

“For now, reflect on what you have done, but know that you can still change your narrative. You will not end up as the examinee who lost your honor forever in your desperation to pass an examination. Learn from your mistake, and earn your honor back,” he said.

Leonen also urged the 219 aspiring lawyers who could not take the exam after testing positive for Covid19 to “not lose hope.”