Thread by @rapplerdotcom

NOW: Press briefing of Bar chairman Justice Marvic Leonen on Day 1 of the 2020/2021 Bar Exams. | via @lianbuan

@lianbuan Out of 11,790 approved examinees, Leonen said 1,405 downloaded the exam files. They estimate that
11,378 are actually getting the exams as we speak. | via @lianbuan

@lianbuan 1.36% of the 8,461 examinees tested by the Supreme Court itself tested positive. | via @lianbuan

@lianbuan The exams started at 8 am, a Bar examinee finished the tests at 8:58 am, said Leonen. | via @lianbuan

@lianbuan Leonen: Sa lahat ng nag test positive, masakit sa kalooban ko, masakit sa kalooban ng aming team, sa buong Supreme Court, pero hindi po puwedeng ang Supreme Court ang mag-violate ng protocols. | via @lianbuan

@lianbuan Partial numbers: A rough 115 examinees tested positive in SC-administered antigen tests, but Leonen said not all of these were unable to take the Bar. There were some considerations. There are others who tested positive outside of the SC tests, but we don't have that number yet.

@lianbuan Why was there no contigency for those who tested positive? Leonen: Yung concern na hindi maging superspreader ang Bar Exams, isang malaking concern yan. Pwede namin ulit i-postpone, o i-violate namin ang batas. Hindi pwedeng may proctor sa isolation kahit naka-PPE. | @lianbuan

@lianbuan Leonen: Hindi naman pwedeng walang proctor kasi it would taint the integrity of the Bar Exams. | via @lianbuan

@lianbuan Leonen: All of the people in the know know that we have taken all contingencies, including postponing the Bar at least three times. 96% is taking the Bar right now. | via @lianbuan

@lianbuan Will there be a Bar in November? Leonen said he cannot speak for the next Bar chairman, who is Justice Benjamin Caguioa. "But certainly hindi pwedeng may special exam, hindi naman ito quiz." | via @lianbuan

@lianbuan There is a high possibility that the results of the 2020/2021 Bar Exams can come sooner than the usual 5-6 month wait, said Leonen. | via @lianbuan

If the examinee shows symptoms on Day 2, they will no longer be tested, put in isolation room and all accommodation will be extended. Simply put, once the examinee is able to take the Bar on Day 1, they will be able to take the Bar on Day 2. | via @lianbuan

@lianbuan Leonen: I will not imagine that I have wisdom for those unable to take the Bar because they tested positive, all I know is the frustration they feel. Ang pwede na lang siguro naming gawin possibly is ibalik ang application fee. | via @lianbuan

@lianbuan For your reference, you can watch Justice Leonen's press conference here:

@lianbuan LOOK: Bar Chair J Marvic Leonen and J Jhosep Lopez at the command center at UP Law, Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo at the Angeles University Foundation in Pampanga, and the next Bar Chair, J Benjamin Caguioa in SLU Baguio. | via @lianbuan