SC: 48.96% passed 2025 bar exams

PHILIPPINE bar passers for the 2025 examinations were officially released on Wednesday by the Supreme Court (SC), with 5,594 successful examinees out of 11,420 takers, or a 48.96% passing rate.

Supreme Court Associate Justice Amy C. Lazaro-Javier, chairperson of the 2025 Bar Examinations, said during the release of the results in Manila, that the Supreme Court played a supportive role in the process with the passers and hopefuls.

“I wanted to make the examinees feel that the Supreme Court and I were always with them. We’re not foes; we’re not here to judge them. We’re here to support them,” she told a press briefing, explaining that the bar is designed to test knowledge fairly and not to intimidate.

The exams, which were held on Sept. 7, 10, and 14, 2025, were conducted simultaneously in 14 testing centers across the country.

Law school performance this year showed notable achievements, according to the SC.

Ateneo de Manila University recorded the highest passing percentage among schools with more than 100 examinees, followed by the University of the Philippines, and the University of Santo Tomas.

For schools with 51 to 100 examinees, Ateneo de Davao University achieved a perfect 100% passing rate, while West Visayas State University led schools with 11 to 50 examinees.

North Eastern Mindanao State University topped schools with 1 to 10 examinees, also achieving a 100% passing rate.

The 2025 bar examinations were topped by Jhenroniel Rhey T. Sanchez of the University of the Philippines, who earned an overall rating of 92.70%.

Other top passers include Spinel Albert Allauigan Declaro (University of Santo Tomas-Manila, 92.46%), Alaiza Agatep Adviento (University of Santo Tomas-Manila, 91.91%), Angelica De Castro Mitra (De La Salle-Lipa, 91.69%), Marc Angelo Galvez Santos (University of Santo Tomas-Manila, 91.59%), Jeowy Loyloy Ompad (University of San Jose-Recoletos, 91.25%), Enrico Gabriel Reyes Paguia (Ateneo de Manila University, 91.25%), Johann Raphael Silapan Gata (University of Santo Tomas-Manila, 90.90%), Marie Shantelle Atienza Sarmiento (University of the Philippines, 90.88%), Richmond Bulan Lucas (University of La Salette, 90.45%).

Complete details, including the full list of passers, topnotchers, and law school rankings, are available on the Supreme Court’s official website.

The oath-taking ceremony and the signing of the roll of attorneys for the new lawyers are both scheduled on Feb. 6, 2026. — Erika Mae P. Sinaking