12,017 Examinees Complete Day Two of Bar Exams

The 2026 Philippine Bar Examinations mark a historic milestone as the sixth regionalized and digitalized licensure examination for aspiring lawyers in the country. Administered by the Supreme Court of the Philippines, the exams took place across three non-consecutive days on September 6, 9, and 13, utilizing 15 Local Testing Centers (L.T.C.s) nationwide.

A total of 12,017 aspiring lawyers returned to testing centers across the country on Wednesday, Sept. 9, to complete the second day of the 2026 Bar Examinations. The turnout represents a 99.9% attendance rate from the record-high 12,029 candidates who took the opening day.

Members of the Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo and 2026 Bar Chairperson Associate Justice Samuel H. Gaerlan, conducted nationwide inspection visits across multiple local testing centers to observe the conduct of the regionalized and digitized exams.

Examinees faced two major subject clusters during the second leg of the tests. The morning session covered Civil Law and Land Titles and Deeds, while the afternoon session tested candidates on Labor Law and Social Legislation.

Chief Justice Gesmundo, Justice Gaerlan, and Associate Justice Antonio Kho Jr. personally inspected the testing facility at Ateneo de Davao University. 

Justice Gaerlan then flew to Cebu City to monitor operations at the University of San Jose-Recoletos, which recorded the highest examinee count among all 15 testing sites at 1,324 candidates, with Associate Justice Raul Villanueva also visiting the campus.

In Luzon, Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen and Associate Justice Jhosep Lopez observed testing at Saint Louis University in Baguio City. Meanwhile, Associate Justice Jose Midas P. Marquez visited the University of Nueva Caceres in Naga City.

Monitoring efforts continued in Mindanao, where Associate Justice Japar Dimaampao oversaw test administration through security footage at the Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology in Iligan City.

Across the National Capital Region, Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa visited New Era University in Quezon City, while Associate Justice Ramon Paul Hernando inspected San Beda University, Ateneo de Manila University School of Law, and the University of the Philippines Bonifacio Global City. Meanwhile, San Beda College Alabang in Muntinlupa City served as the National Headquarters for this year’s exams.

The three-day national examinations will conclude on Sunday, September 13, covering Criminal Law in the morning and Remedial Law, Legal and Judicial Ethics, with Practical Exercises in the afternoon.