On April 5, showbiz reporter Ogie Diaz called out the Pro-UniTeam lawyer Bruce Rivera for mocking unsuccessful Bar exams takers.
Rivera wrote on his facebook account, “Si Inday Sara passed the Bar Exams on her FIRST try and was admitted to the Bar in 2006.
“Pakitanong sa iba ilang beses sila kumuha ng Bar Exams.”
As a result, netizens responded to Rivera’s condescending remarks on the social media platform.
Diaz urged the lawyer to deepen his argument and not bring shame to the LGBTQIA+ community.
Abogado pa mandin tapos ang babaw ng argumento. Teh, laliman mo naman. Wag mo ipahiya ang ating lahi. 😂 https://t.co/2ASTrKOXB8
— ogie diaz (@ogiediaz) April 4, 2022
Other lawyers and netizens also banded to slam Rivera’s intentions for posting his condescending remark on facebook.
Is there a substantial distinction between a lawyer who passed the Bar exams during the first take and a lawyer who passed the Bar exams during the 2nd or 3rd take?
If there is none, what’s the big fuzz?
— Gideon V. Peña (@attygideon) April 4, 2022
I'm also a graduate of NYU Law and I've lawyered for the urban poor, workers, farmers, fisherfolk, IPs, LGBTQIA+ advocates, NGOs, victims of human rights violations, and, yes, the government. It's never the school that defines you, but what you do with what you've learned.
— Barry Gutierrez (@barrygutierrez3) April 5, 2022
Ang alam ko rin. pic.twitter.com/SgJo9UcMLd
— Raquel Fortun (@Doc4Dead) April 4, 2022
there is none.
— Marvic Leonen — maroon check (@marvicleonen) April 4, 2022
Others listed prominent political figures who had notable achievements throughout their career despite taking the Bar exams multiple times.
👇👇👇 pic.twitter.com/UKpGUs8oNo
— readbeyondthelines (@202four) April 5, 2022
I remember that the prominent Nationalist, Senator Claro M. Recto failed the bar exams in his first take because it was administered in English (in contrast to the Spanish curriculum). He studied English rigorously before his 2nd take. In his 2nd take, he became topnotcher.
— Joshua C. Agar (@JoshuaCAgar) April 5, 2022
Former COMELEC Commissioner Rowena Guanzon defended Vice President Leni Robredo, citing all the good she has done despite taking the Bar exams twice.
It is not about passing the Bar. The Question is what have u done for the good of poor people. My President is #LeniRobredo2022 , a lawyer, Vice President of the Philippines. https://t.co/RBLpLHwsf6
— Rowena Guanzon (@rowena_guanzon) April 4, 2022
Columnist Gideon Lasco cited the importance of having a good track record versus passing the Bar exams on their first try.
Something's very wrong if you think that a man with fake academic credentials is more qualified for the presidency than a woman with two degrees – Economics & Law; a hard-earned license to be a attorney; and most importantly, a track record of applying what she has learned.
— Gideon Lasco (@gideonlasco) April 5, 2022
Palanca award-winning writer Ogie Rosa cited other personalities who failed the first time but succeeded through their second attempts.
Hinihiya si Leni kasi take 2 sa bar?
Kung bawal ang second chances, wala sana tayong Pia Wurtzbach na 3x sumubok sa Bb Pilipinas. O Persida Acosta na 3x nag-take ng bar.
At wala ring Bongbong na tinalo ni Leni nang tatlong beses.
— Ogie Rosa (@ogie_rosa) April 5, 2022
One netizen called out the double standard of Bongbong Marcos-Sara Duterte supporters in criticizing their political bets.
— TheEmperor ✊🏼💗🌷🎀 (@Eric_Cabahug) April 5, 2022
Despite not naming Rivera’s target in his post, netizens speculated that the pro-UniTeam lawyer referred to either Sen. Kiko Pangilinan, who is running against Duterte, or Vice President Leni Robredo.