Davaoeño successful Bar examinee wants to serve the public
DAVAO CITY - The law graduate from the Ateneo de Davao University (ADDU) College of Law, this city, is more inclined to serving the public.
“But not as a politician,†Gil Garcia II said laughing. He wanted to work in the Office of the Ombudsman-Mindanao where he finds work challenging for young lawyers like him.
Garcia, who is also a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), landed fourth in the 2014 Bar exam with an average of 84.55 percent. He was also a one-time taker of the CPA exam in 2008.
Being in the Top 10, Garcia was in high spirits. “I am overwhelmed. I did not expect to be in the top ten,†Garcia said. He said he is grateful to his family and other people who helped him overcome the review and the bar examination. His father works at the Social Security System (SSS) – Davao.
Garcia is one of the 1,126 successful Bar examines nationwide. SC Associate Justice Diosdado Peralta, who chairs the 2014 Committee on Bar Examinations, said that out of 5,984 Bar examinees, 1,126 or 18.82 percent passed with a passing rate of 73 percent.
Garcia graduated from ADDU College of Law last year. After graduation, he reviewed for the exam at San Sebastian de Recolletos in Manila.
He is currently working with the ACCRALaw (Angara Abello Concepcion Regala & Cruz Law Offices), a law firm providing full range legal services based in Manila with branch offices in Cebu and Davao. At ACCRA, Garcia said he does pleadings for senior partners or senior associate lawyers.
Garcia joined ACCRA-Davao just three weeks ago. “I still will continue to work with ACCRA and also go into teaching,†he said.
Garcia, however, wishes to serve the public by joining the Office of the Ombudsman – Mindanao. “Sa pagkakaron murag lisod pako mag decide kay bag-o ra man ko sa ACCRA (For now, it is difficult to decide because I just joined ACCRA),†Garcia said, adding that he cannot refuse ACCRA when he was offered the job.
Among the first people he called upon learning he passed the exam was Ombudsman for Mindanao Rodolfo Elman, his professor at ADDU.
Garcia admitted that Elman again offered him to consider applying for a position at the Office of the Ombudsman.
He said he considers his work at ACCRA and going into public service challenging for a young lawyer like him. He said he is not looking for best compensation or benefits. He said what matters is the work.
Meanwhile, Dean Manuel Quibod, Dean of the Ateneo College of Law announced that ADDU registered a passing percentage of 61.76 percent for its fresh graduates and 46.94 percent over-all in the 2014 Bar examinations.
In a press statement, Quibod said the national passing percentage is 18.8 percent. There are 23 other successful examinees from ADDU. Quibod said the other notable bar passer is 2009 Mutya ng Davao Resci Angelli Rizada.
ADDU prides itself of producing top law graduates since it was established in June 1961 by Rector, Rev. Hudson Mitchell S.J. over the years. Its graduates continue to distinguish themselves in private practice, government service, and professional organizations.
Based from ADDU’s website, the first students who enrolled in first year were only 16. The first Dean of the College of Law was lawyer Leon Garcia, Jr. who headed it for two years (1961-63); followed by lawyer Epifanio Estrellado who had been in the faculty of the College of Arts and Sciences since 1952.
Estrellado was the College Dean for 27 years (1963-1990), one of the longest serving deans in the history of the Philippine Association of Law Schools (PALS).
In 1990, lawyer Hildegardo Iñigo, one of the first graduates of the College of Law and member of its faculty since 1967 assumed the position of Dean until his demise on September 27. 2007. At present, lawyer Manuel Quibod (IBP President-Davao City) is the Dean of the College of Law. (PNA)
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