EN BANC
[Bar Matter No. 2716. April 22, 2014.]
13TH SHARI'AH BAR EXAMINATIONS (IN THE MATTER OF THE ALLEGED IRREGULARITIES IN THE CONDUCT OF THE 2014 SPECIAL BAR EXAMINATIONS FOR SHARI'AH COURTS
NOTICE
Sirs/Mesdames :
Please take notice that the Court en banc issued a Resolution dated APRIL 22, 2014, which reads as follows:
"Bar Matter No. 2716(13th Shari'ah Bar Examinations)(In the Matter of the Alleged Irregularities in the Conduct of the 2014 Special Bar Examinations for Shari'ah Courts). — During the regular session of the Court En Banc on March 11, 2014, several letters were brought to the attention of the Court En Banc containing very serious allegations of irregularity in the behavior of certain examiners as well as irregularities in the conduct of the 13th Shari'ah Bar Examinations, which if shown to be true, would cast grave doubt on the credibility of the results of the 13th Shari'ah Bar Examinations. Because the letters were unsigned, the Court could not, prima facie, take more concrete action pending a verification of the identities of the letter writers and a confirmation of the authenticity of the letters. The gravity of the allegations, however, was sufficient to convince the Court to inquire more deeply into the matter and, in this regard, form a Committee that will conduct an investigation on the said allegations.
Thus, the 13th Shari'ah Bar Examinations Investigating Committee (Committee) was formed to ascertain the veracity of the allegations contained in the following letters: Letter dated February 20, 2014 of a certain Ahmad Dela Cruz (unsigned) and received on February 24, 2014; Anonymous letter dated February 22, 2014 and received on February 24, 2014; Letter dated February 23, 2014 with signatures only and received on February 23, 2014; Letter dated March 7, 2014 and received on March 9, 2014 by a certain Shamra Mangotara by e-mail through [email protected] (SC web site).
Thereafter, several meetings were held by the Committee wherein a number of key persons were invited to aid the latter in its investigation and to shed more light into the controversy. EcTCAD
From testimonies of the witnesses, and after perusing the records and the report submitted by the Office of the Bar Confidant, the Committee has concluded that the allegations contained in the separate letters are baseless, mere conjectures and surmises, and deserve scant consideration from the Court. However, it appears that the three (3) children of Judge Samanoden L. Ampaso, namely: Aquil M. Ampaso, Hebah M. Ampaso, and Zohair M. Ampaso, may have received undue advantage in the form of bar examination questions in the subject Succession, Wills/Adjudication, and Settlement of Estate, after their father translated the questions from English to Arabic, days before the scheduled examination.
WHEREFORE, in view of the above and the exigency of the matter, the Court hereby resolves;
1. With the exception of the three (3) children of Judge Samanoden L. Ampaso, namely: Aquil M. Ampaso, Hebah M. Ampaso, and Zohair M. Ampaso, to ALLOW all the successful examinees of the recently concluded 13th Shari'ah Bar Examinations, to sign the Roll of Attorneys before the Bar Confidant on May 14, 2014; 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Training Room, Ground Floor, Centennial Building, Supreme Court, Padre Faura St., Ermita, Manila, provided no other prohibition exists to prevent it.
2. With respect to Judge Kaudri L. Jainul and Judge Samanoden L. Ampaso, the Office of the Court Administrator is DIRECTED to conduct further investigation on the alleged leakage in the l3th Shari'ah Bar Examinations to determine administrative liability, if there is any, to be docketed as a regular administrative matter.
3. With respect to Aquil M. Ampaso, Hebah M. Ampaso, and Zohair M. Ampaso, considering that they have taken their Oath as Counselors, the Office of the Bar Confidant is DIRECTED to conduct further investigation on the alleged leakage in the 13th Shari'ah Bar Examinations, to be docketed as a regular bar matter for possible sanction under the premises.
4. The Bar Confidant is DIRECTED to submit the proposed Guidelines/Rules for the Shari'ah Bar Examinations within thirty (30) days from notice of this resolution." (adv105)
Very truly yours,
(SGD.) ENRIQUETA E. VIDALClerk of Court