Republic of the Philippines

Supreme Court
Manila

BAR BULLETIN NO. 37, S. 2022

OMNIBUS COVID-19 PROTOCOLS

FOR THE 2020/21 BAR EXAMINATIONS

This Bar Bulletin clarifies the COVID-19 Protocols in all local testing centers
for the upcoming 2020/21 Bar Examinations.

These rules have been formulated by the Bar Chairperson after consulting the
Department of Health’s latest guidelines and engaging with the 23 local government
units involved with the testing centers. These guidelines shall apply in general
unless the local government units impose stricter measures, in which case, as a
condition provided by the IATF-EID for licensure examinations, they shall be
respected and will take precedence.

The rules will be discussed in this sequence: first, general rules governing
examinees, both fully vaccinated and not; second, special rules for examinees who
contracted COVID-19 within the month before February 4, 2022, the first day of the
Bar Examinations; and third, other relevant rules.

I. General Rules for All Examinees

For fully vaccinated examinees

1. To take the Bar Examinations, fully vaccinated examinees are required to

obtain a negative antigen test result within 48 hours before 4:00 a.m. of
February 4, 2022 (unless the local government unit prescribes an earlier
testing date).

a. Consistent with Bar Bulletin No. 30, s. 2021, the Supreme Court
will provide for the antigen testing, but alternatively, examinees
may present a negative antigen test result obtained in any
Department of Health-accredited facility as long as it was taken
within the prescribed period.

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 b. Should examinees choose to avail of the Supreme Court-
provided antigen tests, our respective Area Team Leaders will
promptly inform the examinees as to where and when they will
undergo antigen testing. The exact time and manner may differ
for each testing site, depending on coordination with its local
government unit and other circumstances.

2. Fully vaccinated examinees who get a positive antigen test result may still
undergo a confirmatory RT-PCR test from any Department of Health-
accredited testing facility.

a. If they show a negative RT-PCR test result taken after the antigen
testing and before February 4, 2022, they will still be allowed to enter
the testing centers, subject to any further medical assessment if required
by the local government unit.

b. If they no longer opt to take the confirmatory RT-PCR test, the positive
antigen test result will be conclusive and they will be denied entry to
the testing sites.

c. The local government units and the Area Team Leaders shall not be
liable for the late release of confirmatory results.

However, in areas where the local government units deem a positive antigen
test result as conclusive, without need of a confirmatory RT-PCR test, the
examinees who test positive in an antigen test will be deemed COVID-19-
positive and will be barred from entering the testing sites.

Of course, in all local testing centers, a fully vaccinated examinee may still
choose to only present a negative RT-PCR test result, taken within 72 hours
before 4:00 a.m. of February 4, 2022. These examinees need not undergo
antigen testing anymore. However, should the examinees still choose to
proceed with the Supreme Court-provided antigen testing later on, and they
do test positive, this antigen test result will prevail. They will still be barred
from entering the testing site, regardless of the negative result of the RT-PCR
test taken prior to the antigen test.

Partially vaccinated, unvaccinated examinees

All partially vaccinated or unvaccinated Bar examinees shall not undergo

antigen testing. They are required to show a negative RT-PCR test result,
taken within 72 hours before 4:00 a.m. of February 4, 2022.

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 Symptomatic examinees

Regardless of vaccination status and negative COVID-19 test results,

examinees who are symptomatic upon entry into the local testing center on
February 4 and 6, 2022, will have to undergo a medical assessment on site. If
they are required to undergo an emergency antigen test on site, a positive
result will prevail over the prior negative COVID-19 test result, and the
examinee will be barred from entering the testing site.

Note: An examinee is deemed fully vaccinated after receiving the required doses of
their vaccine. Booster shots, though highly encouraged, are not required.

II. Special rules for examinees who had

previously contracted COVID-19

The following rules shall apply to examinees who had previously contracted
COVID-19. Rules vary based on the period within which they were infected:

1. Fully vaccinated examinees who contracted COVID-19 from January 4, 2022

to January 28, 2022, and no longer show any symptoms, shall be allowed
inside the testing sites if:

a. They can show a negative result in an antigen test, administered by the

Supreme Court or obtained from any Department of Health-accredited
testing facilities, but in any case taken within 48 hours before 4:00 a.m.
of February 4, 2022 (unless the local government unit requires an
earlier testing date); OR

b. They can show a negative RT-PCR test result either after a positive
antigen test result (confirmatory) or without a prior positive antigen
test, but in any case obtained from any Department of Health-accredited
testing facilities within 72 hours before 4:00 a.m. of February 4, 2022;
OR

c. If the local government unit waives COVID-19 testing of recovered,

fully vaccinated examinees, they need not undergo testing, but must
instead submit sufficient proof that they have undergone the required
isolation period.

Attached to this Bar Bulletin is a copy of Department of Health

Memorandum No. 2022-0013, issued on January 14, 2022, a summary
of which is as follows:

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 Category Rule
Asymptomatic; fully vaccinated Isolate for at least 7 days from sample
collection date
Asymptomatic; partially vaccinated or Isolate for at least 10 days from sample
unvaccinated collection date
Symptomatic (mild); fully vaccinated Isolate at least 7 days from the onset of
signs and symptoms
Symptomatic (mild); partially vaccinated Isolate at least 10 days from the onset of
or unvaccinated signs and symptoms
Symptomatic (moderate); Be isolated for at least 10 days from the
Regardless of vaccination status onset of signs and symptoms
Symptomatic (severe and critical); Be isolated for at least 21 days from the
Regardless of vaccination status onset of signs and symptoms

Symptomatic; immunocompromised Be isolated for at least 21 days from the

onset of signs and symptoms

d. If the local government units still require prior testing for all
recovered examinees, but allow entry of those who test positive, they
may still enter the testing sites if they submit sufficient proof that they
have undergone the required isolation period.

2. The required proof mentioned under items (1)(c) and (1)(d) consists of the
following:

a. a COVID-19 test taken anytime from January 4, 2022 to January 28,

2022 by a Department of Health-accredited testing facility which
yielded a positive result;
b. a certification of the completion of the required isolation period issued
by the Rural Health Unit, or the Barangay Health Emergency Response
Team, or the City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit, or the
Emergency Operations Center, or a hospital for confined cases, as the
case may be;
c. other documents required by the local government unit, if any; and
d. the required affidavit.

There shall be no set form for the affidavit. However, it must state under
oath that: (1) they are considered by their local government unit as a
“recovered” case; and (2) they have completed the required isolation
period. As they take the examinations, Bar personnel will verify with
their local government unit as to their status as a “recovered” case. Any
false statement shall be cause for outright disqualification from the Bar
Examinations.

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 3. Any of the requirements under (1)(a), (1)(b), (1)(c), and (1)(d) shall be
accepted, unless the local government unit of the examinee’s local testing
center provides for a stricter rule.

4. All fully vaccinated examinees who contracted COVID-19 before January 4,

2022 shall submit themselves to the same COVID-19 test required in Part I of
these Protocols, due to the possibility of reinfection. They shall not be entitled
to the privilege under items (1)(c) and (1)(d) above.

5. Partially vaccinated or unvaccinated examinees are not entitled to the

privilege under items (1)(c) and (1)(d) above even if they had previously
recovered from COVID-19. To take the Bar Examinations, they must show a
negative RT-PCR test result as required by Part I of these Protocols.

6. Any examinee who contracts COVID-19 after January 28, 2022 shall be
required to undergo the COVID-19 testing procedures outlined in Part I of
these Protocols.

III. Additional Rules

1. Stricter measures imposed by the local government units shall be respected.

Should the stricter requirements be imposed, the respective Area Team
Leaders shall promptly inform the examinees concerned.

2. All costs for the RT-PCR tests, as well as the procurement of the necessary
proof stated in Part II, (1)(c) and (1)(d), will be shouldered by the examinees.

3. These rules govern the decision as to whether an examinee will be allowed to

enter the testing sites and take the examinations. Inside the testing centers,
there will be examination rooms that may be allocated to those who enter
based on Part II of this Bar Bulletin.

4. To facilitate their entry, examinees must be able to point to the applicable

portion of this Bar Bulletin that applies to them and be ready to show the
required documentation immediately upon demand.

5. At all times, examinees are required to: (a) wear face masks except to eat or
drink; (b) be at least two meters away from another human being; and (c)
maintain complete silence as soon as they enter the premises.

6. Presenting or attempting to present a false declaration, letter, or certificate, as

well as making a false statement, shall be considered a breach of the Honor
Code. Any examinee who knows of someone who commits any of these acts
but has neglected to report such breach shall also be considered in breach of
the Honor Code.

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 7. Bar Bulletin No. 32, s. 2022 and all other previous issuances and
communications inconsistent with this Bar Bulletin are superseded.

These measures are deemed necessary to protect the health and safety of all
examinees and personnel, and to contain the spread of the infection in the locality
where the Bar Examinations will take place.

Remember that any exercise of a right or a privilege is always balanced with

the necessity to protect the safety of our families and the communities we live in.
None of us will thrive if we recklessly endanger our society.

All the challenges we have faced can either break us or strengthen our
character. So, persevere and continue to study with passion. See you very soon.

For your information and strict compliance.

January 28, 2022.

MARVIC M.V.F. LEONEN

Associate Justice and
2020/21 Bar Examinations
Chairperson

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