2 PWDs among 2026 Bar examinees

MANILA, Philippines — A blind person and an amputee were among the tens of thousands who took the Bar exam this year, Associate Justice Samuel Gaerlan said on Sunday.

READ: First day of 2026 Bar exams underway

Gaerlan, the Bar exam chairperson, said the two persons with disabilities were among those assigned an encoder to assist them in navigating the exam.

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“We also have examinees who were allowed to take exams with the assistance of an encoder,” Gaerlan said in a press conference. “One lost sight to a rare form of meningitis … and one lost both arms.”

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The Supreme Court (SC) justice also said one person deprived of liberty (PDL) took the Bar exam.

The male examinee, he said, was not required to take the exam behind bars.

“We allowed him to go to the local testing centers, but of course, with the implementation of security protocols,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Bar exam this year was conducted through laptops, but three examinees were allowed to take handwritten examinations.

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Those granted the exemption were a 69-year-old “with a limited exposure to computers throughout their life,” a 64-year-old with a chronic eye condition, and a 49-year-old who “lost their laptop before their exam.”

As of Sunday morning, the SC logged a total of 11,900 exam applicants out of the 13,441 officially admitted to take the licensure test.

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“There was an increase in the number of examinees this year as compared to other years,” Gaerlan said. “I think we have the highest number.”

The second and third days of the Bar exams will be held across 15 local testing centers nationwide on Sept. 9 and 13. /mcm