5 MMSU pioneer grads pass 2013 bar exams

BATAC CITY, Ilocos Norte, March 18–At least five pioneer graduates of the Mariano Marcos State University college of law, main campus here have passed the 2013 bar examinations for aspiring lawyers conducted last October in Manila.

The MMSU website says the university’s passing rate is 38.46% or 5 out of 13 examinees while the national average is only 22.18% or 1,174 out of 5,292 examinees.

It identified the MMSU bar passers as Dandy L. Cruz, Moera Joy N. Galing-Luna, Rowel Jake L. Leonador, Mayvelyn P. Tajon and Rizza Joy S. Vallestero. All of the above belonged to the first batch graduates of the university’s college of law headed by Dean Ramon A. Leano.

On the other hand, Ferdinand Richard Michael Marcos Manotoc, one of the three sons of Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos, also hurdled the bar test. A graduate of the University of the Philippines, the young Manotoc did not land in the top 10 compared to his grand father, the late President Ferdinand Marcos who topped the bar exams during his time.

Other successful barristers from the province include Robert August C. Camarillo of Laoag City and Mark Stephen K. Ong of Batac City. Attorney Camarillo, a graduate of Northwestern College here, is the son of a civil engineer who owns a construction firm and a lady doctor of GRASMHospital in Laoag. His elder brother Rommelo is also a lawyer.

Media report said Attorney Ong is a nephew of the late Laoag vice mayor Jimmy Chua and incumbent city councilor Edison Chua.
In Vigan City, University of Northern Philippines graduate Antonio B. Beado Jr. was the lone passer among his colleagues who took the bar exams.(JRG)